Haugen supports gay/lesbian marriage

Senator Mary Margaret Haugen announced her decision to support the rights of gay and lesbian couples to marry.

Governor Chris Gregoire had announced her change of heart on the issue a week earlier and another conservative Democrat, Jim Kastama, from Puyallup also changed his mind and said he’d vote for it.

Haugen’s voice was number 25, completing the majority needed to secure passage in the Senate.

“This isn’t just about what I believe. It’s about respecting others, including people who believe differently than I,” Haugen said.

The state House already had enough lawmakers signed on to approve its bill.

The prime sponsor of the legislation in the Senate was Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle.

Murray thought he’d have to put the legislation up for a vote of the people, until Jan. 23, when Haugen went personally to Murray’s office to tell him and his longtime partner, Michael Shiosaki, about her decision.

They had discussed the issue together through the years.

“This is about whether everyone has the same opportunities for love and companionship and family and security that I have enjoyed,” Haugen said.

The legislation includes a provision that says churches won’t be required to perform marriage services for gay and lesbian couples, and that was an important factor in her decision, Haugen said.

“I’ve spent a lot of time listening to people in my district. I prayed a lot about this. I was at peace after I made the decision,” she said, adding that she just wanted to get going on more important issues.

Indeed, District 10 Norma Smith, a Republicans, is worried the gay marriage debate is diverting attention from the vital work that lawmakers should be focused on. She would like to see a serious discussion on the issue outside of this short legislative session.

She said the bill’s verbage that allows churches the right to decide whether to marry gays or not is not adequate.

“Many deeply held religious beliefs are being silenced,” she said. “It infringes on constitutionally protected religious liberty.”

In a letter to the editor from Coupeville, Heather DeHay expressed a similar concern.

“You are discriminating against Christians,” DeHay said.

Rob McKenna, the state attorney general who is running for governor, said he is against gay marriage, but supports the current law on civil unions.

Another letter sent to the editor by Robert L. Jones, was directed to Haugen before her decision was made. He made two points.

“Given that our Constitution guarantees equality, this should make same sex marriage an easy and obvious issue for one to embrace. There is no equivocation about the fact that it is currently as blatantly unequal as an issue can be,” said Jones, who is the son of Stanwood attorney Edward D. Jones. “The second is that the best education on values comes from the family. It’s not hard to find those who preach sanctity of marriage yet feel compelled to violate its ‘statutes’ repeatedly, and yet feel no compunction in denying the privilege of marriage to others.”

From Camano Island, the education director at St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church said it’s about time. Crystal Colombo said it’s no secret how she feels about the issue.

“I don’t think anyone chooses (homosexuality),”

Columbo said. “God gives us who we are, and everyone deserves to have a committed relationship sanctioned by the church. Legalization will take away the garbage,” she said, adding that the youth in her program do not see it as an issue.

“They live with it every day,” she said.

The Senate measure was voted out of committee Thursday but no date has been set for a floor vote. Identical gay-marriage bills were introduced in both the House and Senate. If they pass, gay and lesbian couples in Washington could get married starting in June.

Washington would be the eighth in the nation to allow gay marriage, after New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Iowa and the District of Columbia.

But a successful referendum drive could prevent the bill from becoming law until voters decide the issue in November. A referendum, however, cannot be filed until the governor signs the legislation. Under state law, opponents have 90 days from the end of the session to collect 120,577 signatures to put a referendum on the ballot. The regular session ends March 8.

If opponents turn in enough signatures, the law would be put on hold until the election.

According to the Secretary of State’s office, there would be no window of opportunity for gay marriages before the election. If upheld by voters, the law then would go into effect Dec. 6.

Staff Reporter Sarah Arney: 629-8066 ext 115 or sarney@scnews.com.