Poll: Do You Support Gay Marriage?

State Governor Chris Gregoire signed legislation this morning that would legalize gay marriage in Washington State.

In a 55-43 vote, the state house approved legislation Wednesday, Feb. 8, legalizing same sex marriage. Tha was a week after the legislation passed the senate in a 28-21 vote. 

“This is an historic day for our state, as we finally recognize the equality and protect the rights of all the people of Washington," said King County Executive Dow Constantine. "We can all take pride in our status as the seventh state in the U.S. to recognize that marriage is a basic civil right.This legislation has been fully and fairly debated. I congratulate Governor Gregoire for signing it into law."

Despite the governor's signature, however, the law is likely to come to the voters before it can be enacted. The Olympian newspaper in the state capital reported that the Family Policy Institute of Washington is organizing a campaign to put a law to a vote on the November ballot. The full story is on The Olympian's website.

The Secretary of State's office also published a Frequently Asked Questions guide on how the referendum process in Washington works.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Court of Appeals in San Francisco struck down 2-1 the California Proposition -- Prop. 8 -- that amended the state constitution to define marriage as being between a man and a woman. (Proposition 8 followed a court ruling that exlcuding gays from marriage was against California's state constitution.) That ruling is expected to head to the Supreme Court.

Mercer Island's representation in Olympia all voted in favor of the legislation:

41st District

Sen. Steve Litzow (R- Mercer Island): Yes

Rep. Judy Clibborn (D - Mercer Island): Yes

Rep. Marcie Maxwell (D -Renton): Yes.

Do you think legal gay marriage in this state is something to celebrate? Or are the reasons to oppose it?