New gay marriage law faces challenge

Weddings delayed as group collects 200,000 signatures to force referendum

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington’s gay marriage law has been blocked from taking effect, as opponents filed 200,000 signatures, more than enough to force a public vote on the issue in November elections.

Preserve Marriage Washington submitted the signatures just a day before the state was to begin allowing same- sex marriages. Officials will review the signatures over the next week to determine if proposed Referendum 74 will qualify for a public vote, though the numbers suggest the measure will make the ballot easily.

“The current definition of marriage works and has worked,” said the group’s chair, Joseph Backholm.

The law, passed by the legislature and signed by Gov. Chris Gregoire earlier this year, would make Washington the seventh state to have legal same- sex marriages.

National groups have already promised time and money to fight the law, including the Washington, D. C.- based National Organization for Marriage, which was involved in ballot measures that overturned same- sex marriage in California and Maine.

Gay marriage supporters, expecting that the referendum would qualify, have already been raising money to protect the law. Zach Silk, campaign manager for Washington United for Marriage, expects both sides to raise millions of dollars.

“It’s fair to say it’s going to be an extremely expensive race.”

The issue has implications on ballots across the nation.

President Barack Obama recently declared his support for gay marriage. In Washington state, the referendum has split the state’s two candidates for governor.

Maryland legalized gay marriage this year as well, but that state is also poised to have a public vote this fall.

Washington state has had domestic partnership laws since 2007, and in 2009 passed an “everything but marriage” expansion of that law, which was ultimately upheld by voters after a referendum challenge.

A poll by Seattle consulting firm Strategies 360 showed that 54 per cent of voters in the state think it should be legal for same- sex couples to get married, though the poll didn’t specifically ask them how they would vote on a referendum.

Perry Gordon lives in Roy but came to Olympia to watch the signature filing and to support gay marriage. He called gay marriage a matter of equality and encouraged Washington voters to consider their conscience.

“Would you want somebody to tell you that the only recognized marriage should be between a man and a man or a woman and a woman? How would you feel about that?” said Gordon, who is gay and would like to get married at some point in the future.

Backholm raised the spectre of polygamy and marriage within families while making his case against gay marriage. He said the law would redefine marriage as it’s been known for generations and suggested a possible slippery slope to other types of marriage.

Gay marriage is legal in New York, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Washington, D. C.