Washington state Senate poised to OK gay marriage/chicago Tribune
Good news for my gay friends here in Washington.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-us-gay-marriage-washingtontre8101hq-20120201,0,4544912.story
OLYMPIA, Washington (Reuters) - The Washington state Senate was expected to vote endorse legalization of gay marriage Wednesday night, which would move the state a step closer to becoming the nation's seventh to recognize same-sex unions.
With passage in the state House of Representatives already seen as virtually assured, opponents of same-sex matrimony say they will seek the measure's repeal with a referendum asking voters to reaffirm marriage as being exclusively between one man and one woman.
Washington state's lower House could vote on gay marriage as early as February 8. Should it reach the governor's desk, Gregoire plans to sign the measure, barring any drastic changes made during the rest of the legislative session, which ends March 8, a representative of the governor said.
The vote, scheduled to start following a floor debate, is considered pivotal given that gay rights advocates have previously failed to muster sufficient support in the state Senate to ensure passage. The political dynamic shifted after GovernorChristine Gregoire, a Democrat in her final year in office, announced last month she was backing the gay marriage bill.
