OLYMPIA, Wash. -- A House panel in the Washington state legislature on Monday advanced its version of a bill to legalize same-sex marriage, placing Washington state just steps from becoming the seventh U.S. state to offer full marriage equality.

CASHMERE, Wash. -- Family and friends gathered for a candlelight vigil on Friday evening to remember 14-year-old Rafael Morelos, who hanged himself on Sunday, Jan. 29. Rafael was openly gay, and friends said he was bullied because of it.

The Washington state Senate on Wednesday evening voted 28-21 in favor of SB 6239, a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage. The bill, garnering three more votes than the required 25, passed with bipartisan support of 23 Democrats and four Republicans, and now moves to the House, where it already has enough support to pass.

OLYMPIA, Wash. –A broad statewide coalition of organizations, congregations, unions and business associations that will work to obtain civil marriage for lesbian and gay couples in Washington State in 2012, will deliver more than 24,000 constituent postcards to every state senator on Wednesday prior to tonight's historic vote on marriage equality legislation, SB 6239.

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Marriage equality in Washington state moved another step forward as a House panel on Monday approved its version of a bill to legalize same-sex marriage. The House [...]

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Washington state took another step closer to becoming the seventh state to offer full marriage equality as a Senate panel on Thursday advanced a bill to legalize same-sex marriage.

Starbucks, Google, and Alcoa are the latest in a growing list of major corporations to announce their support for marriage equality in Washington state.

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- The Washington state legislature appears to have the votes necessary to legalize same-sex marriage, as another state Senator on Monday announced her support for the measure, giving proponents the 25 votes needed for passage.

Extending marriage rights to same-sex couples in Washington State ccould lead to an $88-million boost to the state's economy over the first three years, according to a new report, which also finds that the total spending on wedding arrangements and tourism is likely to generate $8 million in tax revenue for state and local governments.

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington state may soon become the seventh U.S. state to legalize gay marriage. A same-sex marriage bill is expected to be introduced in the state legislature by the end of the week, and according to a tally by the Associated Press, more Washington lawmakers are firmly supporting gay marriage than opposing it.

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- In an announcement before an audience of activists and supporters of marriage equality, Washington Governor Chris Gregoire (D), on Wednesday announced she will introduce historic legislation that if passed, would allow same-sex marriages in Washington state.

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to block release of names of those who signed petitions favoring Washington State's Referendum 71, the unsuccessful 2009 ballot initiative to overturn the state’s “everything but marriage” rights for same-sex domestic partners.

BELLEVUE, Wash. -- A broad, statewide coalition of organizations, congregations, unions and business associations came together on Monday to announce the formation of Washington United for Marriage – a coalition that will work to obtain civil marriage for lesbian and gay couples in Washington state in 2012.

SEATTLE -- A new statewide poll by the University of Washington Center for Survey Research found most Washington state voters would support marriage equality for same-sex couples if approved by the state legislature, reported the Seattle Times.

Officials in Washington state on Monday released copies of signature petitions that forced the state’s domestic partnership rights onto the ballot in 2009, just hours after a federal judge rejected the notion that disclosure of names would subject petition signers to threats or harassment.