Published: Monday, February 20, 2012
Local legislators give reasons for supporting same-sex marriage legislation
Local members of the state House of Representatives say that they supported the marriage equality bill that Gov. Christine Gregoire signed last week because it is a matter of fairness.
One of them is state Rep. Luis Moscoso, who said after the House passed the bill that he believes that Washington voters have evolved since they approved the “Everything but marriage” amendments to the state domestic partnership law in 2009.
State Rep. Mary Helen Roberts said that same-sex couples deserve the same recognition of their relationships that heterosexual couples have.
Roberts, who said that she also supported the legislation as a matter of equality, said that she expects that opponents of the legislation will gather enough signatures for a referendum. However, Robert said, she expects that Washington voters will approve the legislation just as they did the “everything but marriage” amendments in 2009.
Moscoso, however, said that he believes that opponents of this year’s marriage equality law will have a hard time gathering the needed 120,577 signatures to force a vote on the issue.
While opponents of the everything but marriage amendments easily got enough signatures to put the measure on the ballot through a referendum, Moscoso said that they will have a harder time getting enough signatures to get a referendum on the ballot this year.
Rep. Derek Stanford said this last week:
“The marriage equality bill is about protection of individual freedom. We must protect our rights to make our own personal decisions about marriage and religion, and that is why I support marriage equality.”
Rep. Marko Liias, who is openly gay, said that he and his partner have learned in a deeply personal way how important marriage equality is.
“As many around the state know, our partners make us bigger and better than we can be by ourselves, he said. “Mike and I are like many other Washington families; we find our strength in one another. We do not seek, nor do we expect the approval of others – our love is enough.
“The marriage equality legislation allows me to be true to my conscience and my country. Voting for the bill was an act of mercy and an act of justice, and I voted for it with humility and respect for the people that disagree. This bill continues our country’s march towards justice, continues that march towards freedom, and continues that march towards equality for all of our people. It lives up to the pledge our children say every day in class – ‘with liberty and justice for all.’”
Moscoso and Stanford represent the 1st Legislative District, which now includes Brier, Bothell, Woodinville, most of Mountlake Terrace and unincorporated areas of both Snohomish and King counties, but, with redistricting, will include a smaller part of Mountlake Terrace and will reach south to include part of Kirkland.
Liias and Roberts represent the 21st District, which now includes Lynnwood, Mukilteo, most of Edmonds and unincorporated areas north of Edmonds and Lynnwood but, with redistricting, will now longer include the city of Lynnwood and will reach into south Everett.
Evan Smith can be reached at schsmith@frontier.com.
One of them is state Rep. Luis Moscoso, who said after the House passed the bill that he believes that Washington voters have evolved since they approved the “Everything but marriage” amendments to the state domestic partnership law in 2009.
State Rep. Mary Helen Roberts said that same-sex couples deserve the same recognition of their relationships that heterosexual couples have.
Roberts, who said that she also supported the legislation as a matter of equality, said that she expects that opponents of the legislation will gather enough signatures for a referendum. However, Robert said, she expects that Washington voters will approve the legislation just as they did the “everything but marriage” amendments in 2009.
Moscoso, however, said that he believes that opponents of this year’s marriage equality law will have a hard time gathering the needed 120,577 signatures to force a vote on the issue.
While opponents of the everything but marriage amendments easily got enough signatures to put the measure on the ballot through a referendum, Moscoso said that they will have a harder time getting enough signatures to get a referendum on the ballot this year.
Rep. Derek Stanford said this last week:
“The marriage equality bill is about protection of individual freedom. We must protect our rights to make our own personal decisions about marriage and religion, and that is why I support marriage equality.”
Rep. Marko Liias, who is openly gay, said that he and his partner have learned in a deeply personal way how important marriage equality is.
“As many around the state know, our partners make us bigger and better than we can be by ourselves, he said. “Mike and I are like many other Washington families; we find our strength in one another. We do not seek, nor do we expect the approval of others – our love is enough.
“The marriage equality legislation allows me to be true to my conscience and my country. Voting for the bill was an act of mercy and an act of justice, and I voted for it with humility and respect for the people that disagree. This bill continues our country’s march towards justice, continues that march towards freedom, and continues that march towards equality for all of our people. It lives up to the pledge our children say every day in class – ‘with liberty and justice for all.’”
Moscoso and Stanford represent the 1st Legislative District, which now includes Brier, Bothell, Woodinville, most of Mountlake Terrace and unincorporated areas of both Snohomish and King counties, but, with redistricting, will include a smaller part of Mountlake Terrace and will reach south to include part of Kirkland.
Liias and Roberts represent the 21st District, which now includes Lynnwood, Mukilteo, most of Edmonds and unincorporated areas north of Edmonds and Lynnwood but, with redistricting, will now longer include the city of Lynnwood and will reach into south Everett.
Evan Smith can be reached at schsmith@frontier.com.