Gov. Gregoire�s statement on House approval of marriage equality legislation

For Immediate Release: February 8, 2012

OLYMPIA �Gov. Chris Gregoire tonight issued the following statement after the state House approved legislation to allow marriage equality in Washington state with a 55-43 vote:

�This is truly a historic day in Washington state, and one where I couldn�t be more proud. With today�s vote, we tell the nation that Washington state will no longer deny our citizens the opportunity to marry the person they love. We tell every child of same-sex couples that their family is every bit as equal and important as all other families in our state. And we take a major step toward completing a long and important journey to end discrimination based on sexual orientation.

�I commend our House members and thank Rep. Jamie Pedersen for sponsoring this bill. Our legislators showed courage, respect, and professionalism. I look forward to signing this piece of legislation, and putting into law an end to an era of discrimination.�