The Washington State senate voted tonight to approve marriage equality. The bill passed with more votes than expected, because several Republican senators who were uncommitted made the choice to support it.
The State house votes next week, and unless the universe turns inside out, there are more than enough votes there to pass the bill. The Governor has said that she will sign it into law immediately.
Opponents of marriage equality have until sometime in June to gather enough petition votes to put a referendum on the November ballot. I expect that will happen. And then we’ll see what we’re all made of out here in the Pacific Northwest, where we pride ourselves so much on civility and the common good.
Here’s what Cory Booker, the mayor of Newark NJ, has to say about putting questions of equal rights to public referendum: “No minority should have their rights subject to the passions and the sentiments of the majority.”
Period.
Enjoy your day. Mine’s been pretty interesting so far.
This is so good, even if there is a big fight coming up. I made haste to be happy and I remain hopeful.
It isn’t Thurgood Marshal’s Supreme Court anymore girly!
No, but it’s Ruth Bader-Ginsberg’s, Sonia Sotomayor’s and Elena Kagan’s supreme court, so there’s still hope.
Hope Dies Last”! I’m still hopeful too.
Go Michael!