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In a sweep of election night victories for marriage equality, voters in Washington state approved Referendum 74, affirming the state’s same-sex marriage law, and granting gay and lesbian couples the freedom to marry.
Marriage equality supporters declared victory after results showed the measure maintaining a 52 percent to 48 percent as of Wednesday afternoon, despite mail-in ballots that had yet to be counted.
Washington joins Maryland and Maine in becoming one of only three states to legalize same-sex marriage at the ballot box.
Maryland and Maine voters approved their ballot measures Tuesday night as well, and an anti-gay marriage amendment in Minnesota was also defeated by voters.
“Washington voters sent a resounding message that nothing less than marriage is full equality for gay and lesbian couples,” said Chad Griffin, President of the Human Rights Campaign, in a statement. “This victory rounds out a landslide sweep of all four marriage ballot measures this November.”
“We stood with Washingtonians in passing and protecting Domestic Partnerships and we could not be more proud to have stood with them every step of the way in this campaign. This win is a sure sign that momentum is on our side, and with the growing majority of Americans supporting marriage equality, more states will soon join Washington in protecting all families,” said Griffin.
“This win would not have been possible without Governor Gregoire’s steadfast commitment and the leadership of the business community in the state, putting themselves squarely on the right side of history.”
“We made history. Together. And together, we turned a corner for love and fairness not just in Washington, but in Maine, Maryland, and Minnesota,” said Zach Silk, Campaign Manager for Washington United for Marriage.
“The voters have spoken and the arc of freedom and fairness bends further and closer to equality for all,” said Silk.
Same-sex couples will be able to marry beginning on December 6 — all referendums that are approved by voters in Washington state go into effect 30 days after the election.
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HELL YA!!!
Now if Wyoming would just get it. :)
Excellent!!!
If only California could get it together. Congrats Washington!
Maine. Maryland. Washington. HISTORIC
woo now we have 9 states with marriage equality
OMG wow! I love this night!
Maryland also approved the same sex referendum
California will join as the 10th state once the Supreme Court makes their decision in a few weeks
I’m gonna go home to get married!! Yay!!
Not hearing this officially yet folks.
it needs to the the WHOLE USA …
Actually, we may not know for a few days. Only half of the votes have been counted and it 52 to 48% to approve. It’s way too soon to call it.
Timothy, we should hear about Prop 8 in the next two weeks in regards to the Supreme Court. If they don’t want to hear it, we will be allowed to marry-again. Woohoo.
Proud to say I voted yes !
:)
Keep em coming baby yeah!!
It’s over. Equality will soon be here once DOMA falls.
Great!!
More places I can move to if NJ doesn’t work out
I love Washington State and now there is another reason to move there someday. Love…
Yeaaaa. Keep those states coming. What an amazing day it is today.
Omg yeeeessss!!!!!
Wonder when Floridians will finally come to their senses?
Any word about Minnesota yet?
I am so glad to be a gay Washingtonian! Fuck the Religulous!
I contributed to this step forward….So proud of my state right now!!!!!!
Woo!
Awesome! :-)
yay! I voted for ref 74 :3 straight ally!!
I live in Seattle. It is looking good but it might be too early to call quite yet. Crossing our fingers.
There’s still one county out. It looks like it will pass though. We’re at 51.79% approval and waiting on Snohomish County which is directly north of King County (Seattle!). Good sign to me.
Victorious!!!
Happy ,happy, joy, joy I don’t have to be a second class citizen anymore!!!
ok now for Florida
Go Washington!!
Everything.has to go thru congress and with the republicans running this shit its not a really good chance tho
Now Florida yes lets do this,eventually Florida will fall and i cant wait
I guess if you’re a repub these things don’t matter to you but as a minority they’re HUGE
Congratulations Washington!
I’m happy
Thank you WA. We are proud of our state.
It isn’t final yet. Still have to wait for all the votes to be counted.
SO AWESOME!!
Victory!
Okay it is passing still but we still have over 680,000 ballots yet to count–so while the numbers look good we are not celebrating yet.
Approved
985,452 51.79%
Rejected
917,405 48.21%
http://vote.wa.gov/results/current/Referendum-Measure-No-74-Concerns-marriage-for-same-sex-couples.html
it should be approved for every state – if your “straight” and married in one state then whoa your married in all states…should be the same for “gays”…make sense to me.
This is what I’ve been thinking all this time. It has never been a question that married straight people are married. Some of our grandparents were married in other countries!
it has nothing to do with the regligious ceremony but rather the civil contract between states and the citizens…if it is legal for anyone over the age of 17 to consent to marry then why are certain people being denied their rights? Much like the 60′s huh when Blacks has to ride in the back of the bus!
Let’s stop this stupid old action and move forward folks! EQUAL rights means EQUAL rights…why isn’t the ACLU taking up this violation of Constitutional law?