Wednesday night, Washington state legislature voted to approve same-sex marriage, making it likely to be the seventh state to legalize same-sex marriage. The governor is expected to sign the bill into a law next week.
This approval comes a day after the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled California’s Proposition 8 unconstitutional under the 14th amendment and in favor of same-sex marriage in California.
California and the 42 other states need to follow in Washington’s footsteps.
This is a matter of equality for American citizens.
In the majority decision on Tuesday, Judge Stephen Reinhardt wrote, “Proposition 8 serves no purpose, and has no effect, other than to lessen the status and human dignity of gays and lesbians in California and to officially reclassify their relationships and families as inferior to those of opposite-sex couples.”
Only six states have legalized, with Washington set to become the seventh. California could be next.
Other states need to follow suit and legalize same-sex marriage.
Governments need to focus on fixing the economy and other issues that impact a larger population rather than deny two people who love one another the right to marriage.
Extending equal rights under the state will ensure the happiness so many want to find in marriage.
It’s unfair to force those who would like to marry the person across state-lines to — domestic partners do not receive the same benefitsmarried couples receive under the law.
We’ve seen the effect Proposition 8 has had on California, let’s not bring similar legislation to Pennsylvania.
Do not discriminate against the LGBTA community.
