The New Civil Rights Movement:
At 12:08 PM Pacific time, Democratic Governor Christine Gregoire signed the same-sex marriage equality bill into law. Gregoire made national headlines early last month when she announced she had made a strong personal journey and now supported same-sex civil marriage, launching her push to offer marriage to all Washington citizens. One month later, the bill has become law. Washington is now the seventh state and eighth jurisdiction, including the District of Columbia, to offer civil marriage to all citizens. It is also the first state to repeal its Defense of marriage act which prohibited same-sex couples the right to marry.
Opponents of the bill have until June 6 to gather enough valid signatures to stop the bill from becoming effective June 7 — its scheduled date — and place it on a November voter referendum, putting the rights of the minority to an unDemocratic vote. As neither side can claim a majority, there is a strong chance — with the promised infusion of cash from out of state anti-marriage groups like NOM, the National Organization For Marriage — that voters will vote against allowing same-sex couples the freedom and right to marry.
