Australian marriage equality advocates have hailed the vote of Washington State’s legislators in support of marriage equality. The bill had previously passed the state Senate and today passed the House with a vote of 55 to 43.
Australian Marriage Equality national convener, Alex Greenwich, said:
“The historic decision in Washington State gives supporters of marriage equality in Australia continued hope and confidence that this reform will happen”.
The bill passed with the support of a number of key conservative Republican legislators,
“In Washington State we saw the issue handled by the conservative side of politics with maturity and engagement, and we are hopeful the same will happen in Australia”
Advocates have also highlighted that the Washington Senate vote sends a message to Australian politicians that there is no substitute for full equality.
“Since 2009 Washington state has had a domestic partnership scheme which has not given same-sex couples full equality and which legislators now see was a half-measure.”
“This sends a clear message to Australian legislators: deeming same-sex couples as de facto partners or civil partners is not a substitute for the full legal equality that can only come with equality in marriage.”
In a recent statement supporting marriage equality Governor Gregorie, a committed Catholic, said,
“Some say domestic partnerships are the same as marriage. That’s a version of the discriminatory separate-but-equal argument of the past. For years that argument was used to keep African Americans separate. But we Americans knew separate is not equal. Laws that keep some Americans in a separate status are inherently unjust. It’s now time for equality for our gay and lesbian citizens and that means marriage. When someone asks me what marriage means I don’t think of the legal protections of a marriage license. Instead I think about love, I think about commitment, I think about responsibility, I think about partnership. Same-sex couples should not be denied that meaning of marriage.”
For more information contact Alex Greenwich on 0421 316 335.
Further reporting on the Washington State decision can be found here.