Slog

News & Arts

Line Out

Music & the City
at Night

« Reading Tonight | Put That in Your Pipe and Smoke It »

Monday, May 18, 2009

Homo The Elected Officials Holding Pen at the Montlake Community Center

Posted by Dan Savage on Mon, May 18, 2009 at 10:38 AM

7ee7/1242668554-holdingpen.jpg

Local elected officials—Ed Murray, Jamie Pederson, Greg Nickels, Frank Chopp—are waiting for the governor arrive at the Montlake Community Center. Christine Gregoire, who has famously said that the state isn't ready for gay marriage yet, will be signing Murray and Pederson's third and final package of domestic partner bills, or "everything but marriage." Why the Montlake Community Center?

"The bill is about the rights of same-sex couples all over the state," said Pederson, "but the 43rd District is the center of the universe when it comes to this issue. We have more registered domestic partners in the 43rd District than in any other district."

Is the governor coming around on marriage?

"I have a bit of confidence that when we get a bill to her desk," Pederson said, "she will sign it."

How long until a marriage bill lands on the governor's desk?

"We're very close to getting a marriage bill out of the house," says state Sen. Ed Murray. "The big challenge is the state senate, just like in New York. We need 25 votes there, and right now we have 15 solid. But many of my colleagues in the senate have never heard from a constituent asking for gay marriage. We need to deal with that or we will never get gay marriage in this state."

Comments (4) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment

Good job, Olympia!

Posted by Baconcat on May 18, 2009 at 11:02 AM

She'll sign it for the same reasons that she supported Obama when everyone expected her to support Hillary:

(1) She's a better governor than a lot of people think

and

(2) She knows which way the political wind is blowing

Posted by ivan on May 18, 2009 at 11:06 AM

I saw Jamie Pederson downtown pushing a stroller and holding fresh flowers from Pike Place. It was so precious. I'm glad he is on our side.

Posted by StillNon on May 18, 2009 at 11:10 AM

"But many of my colleagues in the senate have never heard from a constituent asking for gay marriage. We need to deal with that or we will never get gay marriage in this state." - what a copout by those not in the solid 15.

Posted by The BTB