Infopinion: Everyone has an opinion - Marriage Equality Act on track for passage in Washington state

By Diane Hettrick, Editor

The Marriage Equality Act, which extends the right of full and legal marriage to same-sex couples in Washington state passed the Senate on Wednesday evening. Having already passed in the House, it is expected to be passed by the full legislature sometime in the next week. Same sex marriage will be legal in Washington state.

Courtesy of TVW, I watched the live proceedings as the Senate committee on Government Operations, Tribal Relations and Elections listened to public testimony from anyone who signed up. Our Senator, Maralyn Chase, serves on this committee.

It was pretty fascinating. Religious leaders of several varieties were there. A rabbi, who said he had the largest Reform congregation in the state and was head of the Washington state Reform rabbis organization, said that Jews are in full support and see it as a matter of dignity and fairness. A Christian minister pointed out that religious organizations are not obliged to perform ceremonies just because a civil union is recognized by the state, so there's no reason for the state to hold back on religious grounds.

A Lutheran minister spoke in favor. Another Christian minister said his church was performing ceremonies for same-sex couples and was offended that the state did not honor those unions.

Representatives from the restaurant, catering, and tourist industry spoke in favor, for business and economic reasons. They envisioned more weddings, anniversaries, receptions, and suggested there would be an increase in tourism as couples came to Washington to marry.

A genial Catholic priest said that the Roman Catholic church was in opposition. A scary woman delivered a staccato speech, using every second of the alloted time to talk about the harm this would do to children and family structure. She turned out to be from out of state.

Finally, there were many stories from people in domestic partnerships, who had been bludgeoned with bureaucracy when one of the couple was hospitalized. The domestic partnerships aren't enough, they said. We were still prevented from being with our partner when they needed us.

And that was just one hour. I understand that a wedding photographer complained he would be forced to take photos of people he didn't approve of (and who would want to pay money to have that black cloud at their wedding?). The Washington state AFL-CIO endorsed, as did Microsoft and Starbucks.

The Metropolitan King County Council passed a resolution in support, as did the Shoreline City Council, unanimously.

Mayor Keith McGlashan travelled to Olympia to watch the proceedings.