Let's hear it for Governor Chris Gregoire who has made same-sex marriage legal in Washington state!
As of today, gay and lesbian couples in the state of Washington can officially say "I do."
"We waited a long time. We've been together 35 years, never thinking we'd get a legal marriage. Now I feel so joyous I can't hardly stand it," said Pete-e Petersen, 85. She and her partner, Jane Abbott Lighty, 77, were the first couple to get a marriage license yesterday after waiting for hours in the cold outside of King County's auditor office.
Many other couples were in line behind Petersen and Lighty to obtain marriage licenses. As County Executive Dow Constatine said, the office opened its doors at 12:01AM today because "people who have been waiting all these years to have their rights recognized should not have to wait one minute longer."
Couples who receive marriage licenses today can't get married until Sunday, due to Washington's three-day waiting period, but there was already a celebratory mood at the auditor's office as volunteers gave out roses and popped some bubbly. Judges will be donating their time on Sunday morning to officiate some of the state's first same-sex marriages.
"This is a very important and historic day in the great state of Washington," Gregoire said before signing the measure that legalizes same-sex marriage. "For many years now we've said one more step, one more step. And this is our last step for marriage equality in the state of Washington."
Cheers to all same-sex couples in Washington who can now officially wed!
[via JEZEBEL.COM; WASHINGTONPOST.COM]
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
