why I disagree with gay mirage I do be leave in the right to life liberty and the pursuit happiness written into the US Constitution. If this is what makes some one happy then that is there right under the Constitution of the United States of America.

Any member of the United States is entitled to the same privileges set forth in the Constitution. Gay and Lesbians are active in our country, work to enhance the country, and are no less entitled to those privileges because of their innate internal desire to have a relationship with someone they love of the same sex when it is equal to the same love those of the separate sex have. Marriage has become more of a religious + contract in our society where marriage entitles privileges and benefits. If a civil union is ultimately provided as the government should do in separating those intertwined religion/rights then the religious aspect of the "Marriage" title is then left as a decision to it religious leaders and parishioners.

In this day and age it is amazing to me that religious nonsense is still being considered as a means by which to promote discrimination against people. Religion is superstition. It doesn't surprise my that Christians are still trying to oppress people. They have a long history of doing this. In over 2000 years they still don't have a shred of evidence to backup up their beliefs as truth. The actual truth is that the Bible and Christian belief is a bunch of nonsense. Religious people should not be allowed a say in matters of government and law. They are entitled to their beliefs, but should not be allowed to promote discrimination, especially since they can't even prove that what they are saying is "God's word". The fact is, the Bible is fiction and sin doesn't really exist. It is all make believe. I am really sick and tired of Christians and other religious groups. Either prove it as true or get out of the way and let a fair and free society emerge from the dark ages of religious nonsense. How come nobody every summons Jesus to testify and get his opinion about same-sex unions? Because Jesus was just a man that lived some 2000 years ago! Come on people, it is time for the Christian oppression to end.

Marriage isn't JUST for procreation (to have kids) but to encourage and cement strong and long-lasting relationships which greatly benefit society. Single people don't live as long, become dependent on society when they're sick and when they get old. Marriage also reduces numbers of intimate partnerships, and prevents the spread of diseases facilitated by physical intimacy. So, it only makes sense that we should want people to marry whether straight or gay.

i don't remember the constitution accepting & ADOPTING homosexuals mmrriage, when this have change,?? but any ways, as a supposed good chritians God feared people, don't you know GOD SAY A MAN SHOULD NOR LAY WITH A MAN,THE SAME GOES FOR A WOMAN, IT IS DETESTED BY GOD, AND IT WILL NOT BE FORGIVING, LOOK AL ALL KIND OF DESEACES,PEOPLE DYING AS FLYS,BABYS BORN WITH IT,AND YOU PEOPLE ARE GIIVING THEM MORE, AND EXTENDED THEM MORE RIGHTS. DO YOU REALLY BELIBE IN GODD,? I DON'T THINK SO,DO NOT CHANGE THE LAW OF GOD, OUR CREATOR, HE MADE MAN AND WOMAN AS A PAIR, NO WONDER THIS WORLD ARE GOING THROUGH SO MANY BAD THING, GOD WARNING?? MAYBE

This bill has to pass. My family is in danger of all rights, what if this was reversed, and heterosexual couple's that do have the right to "Marry", had to worry about how they were going to take care of their family, children and spouse along with themselves. We, My partner and myself have children and grandchildren. We are voters. We abide by all laws and pay taxes. This year alone, we have had to pay 15,000 in taxes, instead of a return. Because one of us made over 3,500. We do not get tax breaks. What if one of us gets sick? We pay twice as much for healthcare. We hae to provide it as "single". How are we to get ahead? How do we provide a college education for our children? Grandchildren? we pay double on everything, because we don't have "The Right". God made us gay american's, and I am proud of that! So, whats so bad to provide Equal rights to everyone. This is a government issue, not a church issue, (By the way we are Christian's too.)
My Domestic partner is Disabled, and I work very hard to care of my family. We deserve equal rights. The Constitution, states, life liberty and justice for ALL. Not just the "Church".
But ALL American's have the right to happiness.
My "Marriage Count's". I never asked permission from any church. It's called separation from church and state.

I agree with civil unions but strongly disagree with their use of the term marriage. Allowing civil unions will not increase or decrease the sexual aspect of gay couples. For those that disagree with their lifestyle need to remember that the constitution provides for the persuit of happiness. If by allowing them the right to the persuit of their happiness does not include their attempt to re-define the term marriage then why not. Where do we have the right to impose our so called "moral" beliefs on them? Liberty is not about forcing others to do or act as society wants them to without some boundaries. Civil Unions or any terminology that they request, other than "Marriage", should be considered as affirming that right. This arguement has been going on long enough. So if gays can accept that the term marriage will never happen in describing their relationship then we could all move onto the real problems we face as a state.

I find the reasons against gay marriage to founded on fear, lust for power and ridiculousness.

1. The "sanctity" of marriage: Well they can't screw it up any more than straight folks, check out the latest divorce rates, celebrity marriages, etc! I'm sure people who have been fighting for it for so long would treat it much better.
PS- RELIGION and GOV'T DON'T MIX!

2. Marriage is for future generations: They are going to be gay either way! Whether or not they are married they are still going to be together and therefore not procreating anyway. Plus have you checked the population rates? We are not in danger of running out of human kind...
Also, just like marriage, if a gay couple are willing to fight so hard for the right to be parents (adoption) then they they probably are not going to mess it up.

3. Power Lust: Why do you care how others live their lives? They are not harming anyone else or getting in the way of others' happiness. You are getting in the way of their happiness! It is all about control and power. It is ridiculous.

Domestic Partnerships are a step in the right direction but hopefully before too long we will take it all the way.

Oh and if you do insist on bringing God into this.
Chew on this:

"Do you think God will punish me for loving or you for judging and hating."

I only wish my loving same sex partner of 32 years could have seen this bill passed into law, before he passed away as it would have make life easier for me now that he is gone. How could we not support this as it gives the same rights and same responsibilies to two people deeply in love. I am rather glad that those who want to take our rights away will have a difficult time due to the increasing fairness of Washington State voters.

- Disagreeing with your viewpoint - no matter how dear it is to you - does NOT constitute "hate." We can disagree, and even reproach, in love. I don't have time in my life for hate. Yet, I strongly disagree with the idea of same-sex "marriage." It is both a fiction and an abomination before God.

- Any legal fiction can be foisted onto the people as whatever the governmental elites want to call it. That doesn't make it right -- or true.

- The family - the traditional family created and ordained by God - is the foundational building block of civilization. We mess with it at our own peril -- both temporal and eternal.

- Any of the advantages of marriage can be taken care of via contractual agreement between individuals, including survivorship, medical and legal power-of-attorney, sharing of a familial name, etc. There is no true need for the fiction of same-sex "marriage."

- This is just another attempt to lend legal acceptance and sanction to a deviant set of behaviors. Look up the term deviant in the dictionary: It means deviating from the norm. If same-sex relationships were - in fact - within the norm, this whole argument would be moot.

- What's next? Will tne next great legal push be for legal recognition and sanction of "trans-generational" sexual relationships championed by NMBLA? Trans-species marriage? Polygamy? Polyamory? BDSM? The depths of human perversion have no limits -- does that mean we all must meekly accept each progressive level as "normal?" Each of these groups will have their own version of "Act Up."

- Cori misses the point: All will be judged. All.
I can disagree, correct and reproach. As long as I do it in the love of Christ, I can face my judgement with a clear conscience and faith in my redemption by Christ Jesus.

- And yes, I do pray regularly for healing, recognition of truth, repentence, salvation & redemption for all those who are trapped in the homosexual lifestyle -- just as I pray for those who are trapped by drugs, gambling, pornography, sexual addiction and every other self-destructive behavior. Jesus came so that all might be saved. Ultimately, that salvation is a very personal choice. I can steer someone that way, but their decision to seek salvation will always be their own.

- And finally, yes -- I do have friends and relatives who live the homosexual lifestyle. They know that I disagree with their lifestyle -- but they also know that I still love them.

Let's remove the adversarial language of politics and social engineering from the equation. We CAN disagree and still co-exist. That doesn't necessarily mean that you'll always get your way. Happiness is not guaranteed by the Constitution. Its pursuit is one of the natural rights enumerated in the preamble of the Declaration of Independence -- but nowhere is it's attainment guaranteed -- not even in the Bible.

No one has the right to determine who another individual should love. This is the last frontier as far as rights are concerned and it's about time that Gays and Lesbians are given the same rights as anyone else!

No one has a right to judge or deny rights to another human. I agree with cori who said that Gov't and religion do not mix! What ever happened to the separation of church and state?

These right wing fanatics know far more gays and lesbians than they even realize and it's not their place to judge. It is the unknown that they fear, yet they work, shop, drive and WORSHIP with gays and lesbians all the time. As far as I know, not a single one has "attacked" their marriage or threatened their straight partner! We live just like they do, except we go about our business and aren't spending all our energies trying to take rights from someone else!

The gay community are made up of SINGLE people -period! I was single once, and I had to 'put up' with being single until I got married' legally'! These gay 'single people' need to do what they have done for centuries,and live their lives and get our of our faces! (altho I personally believe there were not that 'many' gays until recently, when it was 'suggested' they 'could' be a gay person--putting 'doubts' in their minds via our now 'LOUD' community of gays.) It's a choice, pure and simple! Always has been. These poor teens, giving them this 'burden' to question their born' gender'! Society ought to be ashamed!

Shelly -

1) I do not judge. That is not my province. For this particular set of behaviors, judgement has already been rendered by the highest, and only eternal authority.

2) I don't tell anyone who they can love or not love. Love your brother. Love your cat. Love an oddly shaped rock in your driveway. It matters naught to me. Just don't demand legal sanction for that love as being co-equal with the love between husband & wife. No power or principality of man can make that particular determination.

3) I recognize and respect everyone. Whether I agree with them -- or not. Recognition & respect do not demand meek acquiesence to the idea that anyone's set of behaviors be sanctioned as normal and acceptable by law. Else, why is pedophilia not viewed as normal and acceptable by law? Need I cite more examples?

4) Shrillness and heat don't make truth.

May God shower you in His blessing and peace.

I am so glad that a strong majority of Washingtonians support the domestic partnership bill. While the bill is clearly not marriage, nor does it attempt to secure the over 1000 federal rights given to same-sex married couples, it will protect gays and lesbians under state law.

I am grateful to live in a state with so many loving and accepting friends and neighbors. They have elected a like-minded government that understands how important it is to treat all citizens equally.

When I was a teenager coming to grips with who I was born to be, I never thought I would live to see the day that the majority of my neighbors would love and support me. Clearly though, love is more powerful than hate.

i do believe that God made us the way we are we don't choose to be gay or lesbian and whats wrong with us being happy as well, i see no harm in loving someone no matter the sex they are, and family knows no rules,

Some people just have too much time on their hands.

The government should provide civil unions and only civil unions to both heterosexual and homosexual couples. These unions should bestow the rights and responsibilities now included in marriage.

Since marriage is most often described as something provided by God, it should be the province of religious organizations, who can include any privileges they wish for those they marry.

Well, more wacko liberal left Seattle laws...If this stupid thing passes, make no mistake it is NOT a Statewide initiative but is most definitely a SEATTLE/KING COUNTY initiative, just as our Governor is NOT a choice of the people of the entire State, but of Seattle and Tacoma. Looks like the unemployed "journalists" in Seattle will have plenty of time to get behind (pun intended) the gay left.

Homosexuals make a mistake when they think that "hate" motivates those who support God's clear direction for marriage to be between one man and one woman. We are motivated by what our Creator said we should do, and we earnestly desire to obey Him. There is no hate here; merely love for God and a desire to be obedient to His Word. We disagree with a state or a nation being able to highjack this basic principle because it runs counter to what God says, not because we hate anyone. We can all do our best to love one another (our neighbor as ourself). However, we are not all supposed to marry one another. Newsflash: in states where gay marriage has become the law of the land, parents no longer have any right to prevent their children from receiving a homosexual curriculum in school (for example, stories read to kindergartners about Ben and Bob who are married). In New Hampshire, when a husband and wife requested that the local school district allow them to take their kindergartner out of class during this part of the curriculum, they were refused. The parents stated that they have the right to introduce different aspects of sexual preference when they believe their child is old enough to understand that conversation. Wake up! This issue is about parental rights being taken from us! It is happening now and it is in direct consequence of the homosexual agenda, which runs counter to God's written manual on how we are to live in peace and unity. Let's learn to love one another by first honoring the One who loved us and gave us His most loving instructions on how to choose life and live according to His Word. Deut. 30: 15-20.

The question before the legislature is not about marriage equality, it is about whether or not gay and lesbian couples will have some of the rights that legally married heterosexual couples already enjoy. If the Domestic Partnership Expansion bill of 2009 passes then same-sex couples will be able to access about 450 0f the over 1500 legal protections of marriage. I think this would be a good thing for Washington's lesbian and gay families and all Washington residents.

On the question of marriage itself: As I read the comments above I think it is important to remember that we live in a country that has been made great by our belief in religious liberty. I am an observant Reform Jew and my faith already religiously marries gay and lesbian couples. To those of you who argue against legal recognition of gay couples because of your religious beliefs I say to you that you are doing violence to our nation's tradition of religious liberty. No state has the right to say what couples a religion will marry, but by the same token, no faith tradition has the right to impose its religion on all the people of Washington through the civil law. If a religion does not want to marry gay couples that must be their right but that is a different question from whether the state should allow same-sex couples to get a civil marriage license. This however is a question for another legislative session. This year the legislature is only considering the question of domestic partnerships.

I really don't care if people have religious beliefs that condemn homosexuality. That's their right. But they violate others rights when they try to make their religious beliefs the law of the land. Gays should not be denied any legal advantages heterosexuals have access to and that includes marriage.

It is amusing to hear the same old tired stuff from these so-called "Christians" -- the handful that posted their continued loony outrage in response to this feature tonight cling to their "God" and their "creator" as reasons to oppose long-overdo legislative attempts at equality via Domestic Partnership expansion (not MARRIAGE folks.) Well guess what? you do not and cannot mandate MY God or creator.
You don't like "Gay marriage"? -- DON'T ENTER INTO ONE! And when the day comes that there is such a thing, should I choose to officially honor the relationship I have maintained for more than 15 years, I can promise I will not step foot in your so-called houses of worship to attempt to garner recognition. Education, critical thinking and an ability to repel brainwashing will make certain of that.
Sadly, there will probably be many many dollars raised to fight this basic human right by these sanctimonious scolds instead of feeding the hungry, helping with the sick and giving shelter to the ever-increasing numbers of homeless children (children, the very "souls" these people profess to be advocates of) -- but as we move forward, it will also mean more and more of these houses of "God" going out of business as a result of pure mean-spirited behavior and dogma. I still see Ken Hutchinson spreading his foolishness in a borrowed space.

David, you bring up an excellent point about the cost of a referendum to fight the DP bill. How could any Christian in their right mind invest any money what-so-ever to fight equality in this state when so many families are in need of basic life necessities like food and shelter.

Spending millions to oppose equality would be the most anti-Christian move the religious right could make. Can you imagine Jesus, given the choice between feeding the hungry and hurting gay and lesbian families choosing anything other than helping those in need? I can't. It just goes to show how divorced from Jesus's true message the right wing "Christians" have become.

Sad isn't it?

Homosexuality is a sin. Period. No matter what we believe - what is spoken by God in the Bible is truth and no one can change that. Homosexuality is not something we are born into - it is a choice. I am saddened that our children have to be subjected to this lifestyle and are even adopted by these couples. These poor children will have much to untangle as they go out into the world. This is not about hate - this is about morality and living a life that is pleasing before God. Don't be deceived. God is not mocked.

You can come away from homosexuality!
Go to this website and read how this man of God was healed from his lifestyle of homosexuality:
http://www.dennisjernigan.com/djs-story

Have we not been trying to keep nature protected from man? Does not the very nature of things tell us sex is between Man and Woman? To love each other is great but why try to have sex with the same sex? Is not the female made for man and man for woman. If two people of the same sex want to spend the rest of their life together let them, but they should have the strength to know that sex between them is wrong and they should not be able to adopt or raise kids. I'm tired of these stupid arguments. lets get back to a more natural life.

Gay marriege is wrong. Why? You ask.. because even your body tells you where each part of your body should go.. not into the sewer. Being gay is discusting. Gay people are people that need mental help. I wish that insted of rights for gay couple, we should help build a mental institude for them. We as "straight" people need to help them.

I am a gay man.... I'm a Seattle public school teacher, teaching first and second grade..... All my students and their families know my partner (my "husband")...I am truly out and proud.
I shake my head reading some of the hateful comments above, and I SMILE, knowing that by just being myself everyday, I am teaching young people that being gay is normal... that anyone who is gay deserves the same respect that other people do.
... So very quietly, and faster than the haters think, our young people will soon form the public opinion that will bring equal rights to all of us... I am so proud to be a part of that.

I have not read all the comments that are posted but of the ones I did people seem to want religion and government to "mix"; I agree but if that is going to happen the first thing that needs to change is to remove "In God we trust" off of legal tender that is printed and circulated by our government. We can't mix when we want to mix and make the laws apply here but not there. Bottom line is marriage has been defined as the union of a husband and wife. If same sex couples want to be exclusive why can't they have a "union?" Why do they have to involve themselves in a ceremony that has been established and practiced for thousands of years? If the gay people are so hell bent on everyone else "evolving" or changing with the times, why don't they evolve themselves and start a new tradition and call it " A Ceremony of Union!"
I don't care that they want to be together or want the same rights as far as medical insurance, survival benefits or hell even be entitled to alimony if they get "un-unioned" see how I didn't say divorce! I get what they want but I don't agree with the wording.

Why is this even an issue? I don't try to decide who you marry , so why do you have the right to decide who I marry? I think that the domestic partership expansion and equal marrage laws should be passed. It is not right that people that I dont even know can just throw away any rights that I have on a whim, or because they dont belive that it's "right".

-A first class citizen, with second class rights

I meant don't want religion and government to mix. Sorry for the typo.

thank you for taking time to discuss the latest advance of the domestic partnership bill. I am curious why the opposition always gets to comment on why someone should not be allowed rights and equality. As someone who has dedicated their life to fight for equality for all citizens of this country it amazes me that we have to contiue to let those who often are allowed to say hate filled comments and remarks that are based on nothing more than fear and a lack of understanding. I wait with anticipation for a moment when members of the Gay and Lesbian community have a moment of clarity and are allowed to talk about what really is at stake for couples without protections from discrimination and oppression. I welcome an opportunity to speak about just how many laws the gay and lesbian community will still be lacking of the 1138 rights and protections when one is allowed legal marriage. My decesased wife Kate Fleming and I know all too well what we lacked the night of her death and the days to follow. It is shameful to stand behind God as a basis for discriminaton and to feel free to speak with absolute disrespect. God is love, and what I have yet to hear is anything but love. Charlene Strong, advocate for equality and Commisoner for the State Human Rights Commission.

Stop spiritual violence against GLBTQ people! If you are going to quote the bible, you ought to have done your homework! The following passages should be read by all; as most people who consider being gay a sin have committed at least one of the following:

DEUTERONOMY 22:13-21
If it is discovered that a bride is not a virgin, the Bible demands that she be executed by stoning immediately.
DEUTERONOMY 22:22
If a married person has sex with someone else's husband or wife, the Bible commands that both adulterers be stoned to death.
MARK 10:1-12
Divorce is strictly forbidden in both Testaments, as is remarriage of anyone who has been divorced.
LEVITICUS 18:19
The Bible forbids a married couple from having sexual intercourse during a woman's period. If they disobey, both shall be executed.
MARK 12:18-27
If a man dies childless, his widow is ordered by biblical law to have intercourse with each of his brothers in turn until she bears her deceased husband a male heir.
DEUTERONOMY 25:11-12
If a man gets into a fight with another man and his wife seeks to rescue her husband by grabbing the enemy's genitals, her hand shall be cut off and no pity shall be shown her.

Do on to others as you would have them do on to you!

I don't feel that I have a right to tell any consenting adult who they can love or marry NOR do they have a right to tell me. All people should have the same basic freedom to marry the person of their choice.

Okay, This is the easiest issue to sort out. Let's look at it through a variety of examples.
--------------------
First example: Hybrid cars. Hybrid cars are made of engine parts that include both gas and battery powered engines. Because this offers benefits to society and reduces our carbon footprint, the government has decided to give certain tax breaks for owners of hybrid cars. I own two cars both with gas engines. One is a 350Z that eats lots of gas and I love it. Anyway, gay "marriage" would be like me wanting for my two cars tax breaks equal to those given for a hybrid. Never mind that they are more of a benefit to society, my cars were created differently, but don't they deserve the same treatment?
--------------------
Second example: Mules. Mules, the combination of a donkey and a horse, because of who they are cannot breed. Without the two different original species, the mule would not exist and within a few decades all the mules would die out. Those who demand that God does not exist must rely on the theory of evolution to explain where they came from. Without heterosexuality, there are no homosexuals. If a Gay person denies God, they are hypocritical for denying the innate laws of nature. It a Gay person does accept that there is a God, they are hypocritical for denying the divine laws of God. But being Gay "feels" right and makes you "happy" so don't worry about the details.
--------------------
Last Example: Global Warming. The extreme environmentalists have created their own "religion", in a sense, and are cramming it down the throat of every American no matter if we agree with it or not. However, no matter if I disagree with the tactics, I agree that clean air and water are a benefit to the community (economics aside). So despite the fact that I disagree with the "religion" of global warming, I can think through the process and understand that the environment will be cleaner with the goals they have for it. Gay marriage proponents are blind to the logical benefits of a societal structure based on the proven most effective model of life, the family with father, mother, children.
--------------------
If you disagree, sorry, but you're not making any logical sense.

I thought that the man from the Family Policy Institute (not sure of the full name) made a good point regarding the other restrictions on marriage currently (can't marry under 18, can't marry someone married, can't marry relative closer than a second cousin) No one has addressed why the same gender restriction is the only one that people are trying to change based on the sole argument that they love each other and pay taxes. Should then all of these restrictions be taken off? As long as you love each other it doesn't matter?

I am a 63 year old happily divorced mother of three. One of my children is gay and while I would never want to marry again, I believe every person has the right to marry the person of their choice as long as they are of legal age. I believe these upcoming changes in our state's legislature for domestic partnership is a giant step in the right direction. Thank you for allowing me to give my opinion.

Dear God. I normally love KING5 but this story tonight was AWFUL and completely slanted. It was as if you were baiting people to be discriminatory homophobes and get upset about this great change in our BROKEN laws.

Thanks. Um, not so much.

I cannot believe how unbalanced the story was. Where were stories like Charlene Strong's? Or like mine? Not recognizing relationships THAT *ALREADY* EXIST despite your religious hatred, gains nothing except hurting taxpayers (when MSFT doesn't pay for that hospital stay, um, the *state* does) and people like me that have done NOTHING wrong, except to not love the opposite sex--oh, and make kids that I don't want and the world doesn't need. Sorry!

BTW, when did this state (or country) become a theocracy? When did YOUR bible become the source of laws we all live under. This is a *SECULAR* state, get used to it, KEN!!!!!!!!!

I want to say that both guests were idiots, but I should probably just say that both guests had weak arguments and one is the most openly discriminatory human I know of in this state (yep, that's you, Ken!!!!!! Shocking!!!!!)

BTW, I am GAY. So, the best you can hope for is that my life and the life of my WIFE is solid as a couple and that we TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER without involving the state. How can Ken like heteros (that I wouldn't let mow my lawn) with kids on welfare, but hate someone like me that can take care of my family VERY nicely but just wants to be recognized legally? If you deny me my RIGHT to marriage, I am NOT (NOT NOT NOT) going to marry a man or make babies, so what are you winning? NOTHING!

-hew

First off, I firmly believe that each person's sexual preference and practices are their own business, as long as they are consenting adults.
However, gay marriage or domestic partnership or whatever name you want to call it is wrong. Not for religious reasons, however. There is a reason that there are two different genders, whether it be humans or animals. That's right, reproduction and continuation of the species. Stability of life to raise their offspring. Gay partnerships offer none of that. The argument that claims discrimination and inequality is simply a smokescreen. It's simply an excuse to get in on the financial benefits that straight marriage partners get. And a way to flaunt it in everyone's face. What the gay movement really wants more than anything is to have their lifestyle recognized as normal and mainstream, and have the state sanction it. To have our children grow up thinking it's just as good to have two moms or dads, rather than the traditional family unit. Sorry, but it doesn't work that way. A child needs both parents for proper development.

We would like to say that our church would marry us if it was legal - they already perform committment ceremonies for same sex & mixed sex couples. We would not want to be married in any church that does not accept us, that is the church's right. A religion's right is different than a civil right. However, state rights are for all citizens regardless of gender preference.

Also, families do come in many different forms, GLBT families, foster families, adoptive families, nuclear families, single parent families - then there are the communities that are like families to many different people. In our case, we have two beautiful, grown daughters with families of their own - we are Grandmothers, Aunts, Great-Aunts, mothers, sisters. Our extended families (in-laws) love us, support us and want us to have full rights under the law.

We are blessed by God to live in a state that recognizes equality for all.

Heather,

You do NOT have a RIGHT to get married! The PEOPLE have the RIGHT to keep you from being "legally recognized", so get over it. Take care of yourself and your "family", and stop trying to stick it in the face of straight people.

A few side notes:
Marriage is not a right. Sorry. Here in the USA we have the choice to marry whomever we want, we're not put into arranged marriages against our will or sold into marriage. Marriage is between man and woman. The Gay Left is clamoring for a non-right that doesn't exist.

You can't quote from the Bible if you don't believe or live the Bible. That's called lying.

You can't use divorce as a reason for gay "marriage". How does that work? That's like saying, "the system is broken, but we want it to not work for us, too!!"

Hey, once they pass full domestic partnership, straight same-sex friends (not couples) should game the system, claim to be "partners" and get these benefits, too! This state passes laws for political and ideological reasons without thinking of the consequences and loopholes....let's ALL take advantage of it!

How are the employers, courts, and all the institutions affected by the regulations that are to be allowed a "domestic partnership" going to determine which "partnerships" are legal rather than just convenient. I don't believe that applying the same regulations of marriage to a "domestic partnership" has any way of being fairly implemented or can escape all types of legal ramifications beyond their intent. What is to prevent every situation involving a room mate to claim they have the rights of "domestic partnership" if it happens to offer them a benefit whether deserved or not. I believe that the thousands of pages of legal documents which mention marriage exist to help protect the idea of creating, maintaining and supporting a family unit, which is the basis for a society to maintain itself. The idea of gaining rights for "domestic partners" should be to approach the legitimate legal matters one by one for approval. The right to be fully involved in the medical, property, and life decisions of a "domestic partner" should be done by jointly processing the legal documents to afford each other those rights, and not expanding the rules governing the marriage of one man to one woman to cover all the other possibilities of a partnership.

Dear Tim, methinks though doest protest too much.

Michael -- thank you so much for your post. Most of the so-called 'believers' have probably never read the passages you listed.

And for those who have suggested that being gay is a choice or a "preference", PLEASE explain to us in detail, the exact moment when you decided to be straight, instead of being gay.

Sheesh.

As I reviewed these comments I could not stop thinking THANK YOU HOMOPHOBIC PEOPLE! By allowing you to speak uncensored the world gets to see the violence gays and lesbians face every day. One man wrote, "we should help build a mental institude for them." (I left his typo). This ideology is one step away from Hitler's practice of loading gays and lesbians on trains and shipping them to concentration camps where they suffered the same fate as the Jews. People of reason hear this, gays and lesbians are in grate danger if these people get their way. This is one reason we need legal protection under the law.

On another note, Jesus and gays have a lot in common. I imagine Jesus is looking down on his so-called followers in this conversation and is feeling extremely misunderstood. He never preached hate. As a gay man, I too feel misunderstood by some of his followers. The real Jesus would have been a good and loving friend of gays and lesbians. He knew what it was like to be misunderstood and crucified by society.

Wow, King 5, it is really shocking how biased your news station is towards gay marriage. The Up Front segment that aired last night was not only slanted, it was misleading and inflammatory, bordering on homophobia. I expected more of King 5.

Gay marriage is not "illegal". The "ban" on gay marriage does not appear ANYWHERE in the criminal code of Washington. It is a constitutional amendment, not a law. The legally correct way to refer to gay marriage in this state is to say that the law does not RECOGNIZE gay marriage. Check with your corporate attorneys on this one.

King 5 has ceased to report the news in an unbiased fashion and therefore failed to meet the standard of journalism. King 5 will no longer be watched in our home.

To begin, Domestic Partnership is far from Marriage and does not seek to redefine the word marriage. The word marriage, has been redefined many times over the years, and there have always been Biblical reasons against this re-definition. For instance, up until the 70's, interracial marriage was illegal, and those opposing it cited the Bible as their reasoning.

I come from a very religious family. My father was a pastor, many of my uncles are pastors, and many of my family members would consider themselves Born Again. All of these amazing family members, came to my same-sex wedding. When putting together the wedding invitations, we debated what semantics to use on the letter head. We chose "Celebrate Our Union." We did this out of respect for the religious belief in the word marriage as being between one man and one woman. A year later, when the wedding happened, my extended family realized that the wording didn't matter. They saw the love that exists between my partner and I, the commitment, and the respect, and they realized that our beautiful union is no different from their marriages. They all refer to us as married, but we never asked them to use that word. They use it because they finally see that our relationship is not a moral debate, it is a family founded in love.

You see, so many people who oppose same-sex civil marriage feel that homosexuality is a moral issue. They narrow it down to being about sex and anything related to sex, in a religious sense, is a moral issue. What few understand, and our media doesn't help here, is that homosexuality is about attraction which leads to love and commitment... sex is not the sole foundation of my relationship, and any relationship would fail if it was (straight or gay). To fall in love, human nature requires at least a bit of attraction to spark the initial flame. What comes from that is a responsibility for one another, a family, mutual adoration, and respect. Those unions deserve equal protections. Our families deserve equal protections. My heterosexual married friends, my loving parents (married for 30 years BTW), and even my Born Again Christian relatives all believe that my partner and I deserve to have our commitment to each other protected under the law. Our government is designed to protect all of its citizens, yet it fails in this instance. Passing a Domestic Partnership Bill allows for ALL citizens in Washington to share equal protections. It EVEN protects those who don't want us to use the word "marriage" from loosing that word. And, to be extremely clear, it does not confer the 1138 federal rights and protections that come from marriage. So obviously it is a step in the right direction, but until our federal rights are gained (through federal Domestic Partnership maybe), we will not have full protections under the US Law.

Those who oppose same-sex relationships are allowed their beliefs, but I am still unclear how my relationship harms theirs. If my commitment to my partner hurts your marriage, then you and your partner have some work to do on your own commitment. If your faith is strong, then my relationship should not deter from it, and you should feel confident enough to not insert yourself into my family.

Marriage is recognized by the state for ONE REASON to support that institution that best serves the needs of a healthy society. The institution that best serves the needs of a healthy society is one that best serves the needs of the children who are essentially the future of the community, state or nation. What best serves the needs of the children is to be raised in a committed married relationship by their biological parents.

Marriage exists in every complex society governed by law as a public legal act and in not merely a private religious declaration of a romantic commitment. Marriage is a public recognition of a sexual union that creates kinship obligations and the sharing of resources between men, women and the children their sexual union may produce.

Additionally, no one should experiment with the lives of our children.

Regarding same-sex parenting… “Thus far, no work has compared children’s long-term achievement in education, occupation, income and other domains of life.” Judith Stacey and Timothy Biblarz, “(How) Does the Sexual Orientation of Parents Matter?” American Sociological Review,” 66 (2001) 159-183

“Thus, it is not simply the presence of two parents, as some have assumed, but the presence of two biological parents that seems to support child development. ”Child Trends Research Brief, June 2002, p. 1.

Finally, the financial impact of this action by the WA legislature is huge and comes at a time when the state is having to cut services to children, schools, Health and Human Services and our public safety. It will cost the state of WA over $8 million to implement this bill to recognize "love" and experiment on our children while we suspend teacher salaries and cut services to the physically and mentally disabled and eliminate health care to children. What are they doing in Olympia???

Karen-

So what shall you do with heterosexuals that cannot, or do not want to, have children? How does that fit your model? If kids are the whole point of marriage, why let my parents stay married now that the kids are raised? Why let two 60-year-olds marry? What about people with awful genetic diseases?

I would assume that you still support those sorts of unions (provided they are boy-girl) as they create societal stability, even if they never produce, or have already successfully managed, offspring. If that is your stance, I agree, BUT I think my having that sort of legal stability benefits you in the exact same way as those cases, in that allowing non-actively-procreating loving couples to be recognized benefits you (indirectly, as a part of a more stable society).

What about me? I am gay and I do *not* want kids, and so I am not "exposing" any future leaders to anything in my relationship or home. I do have 2 terriers, but I am pretty certain they are OK. What's wrong with me wanting complete legal security for two adults willing to take on shared responsibilities as a household and agree (as do straight couples) to a common fate and providing mutual aid and comfort to one another (which, by the way, almost always saves The State and/or Taxpayer money)?

And, even if you took away gay adoption, gay people end up with kids through numerous life events--both chosen and happenstance. Are those kids really better off with a single parent and all that means in terms of financial deficits and limited parental time versus allowing that parent (who, again, already has the child through whatever series of events) to be in a stable, committed gay relationship--allowing for the parents to share the responsibilities and costs of parenting?

I get that in your world, everyone would be straight, everyone would be “fruitful” and produce kids, no one would ever get divorced, and no one would ever die early leaving kids behind. But that isn't reality.

Amy says: If your faith is strong, then my relationship should not deter from it, and you should feel confident enough to not insert yourself into my family. I say; so I can't insert myself into your family but YOU can insert yourself into my family?! If you were confident enough in your relationship as you say you are; why do you need the paper to say you are Unionized or "married." It's not a matter of my marriage or any other husband-wife couple being confident in "our" relationshiop it has to do with if we change the term of marriage to include Gay/Lesbian then where does it stop to not include other relationships that are currently looked down upon? Where does that slippery slope end?

Deborah-

This is not complicated. Why did you get “married”? Why didn't you just decide to live together with your male partner, perhaps cobbling together legal docs when needed? Is that not good enough for you? What’s the problem? Why do I need to “recognize” that you love each other? Why does Washington care that you love each other and live in the same house? Oh, and you could also have chosen that fate knowing that your not getting married would mean that there were things you could NOT do via contract through an attorney (such as Next of Kin designation).

Oh, wait, you probably got married because you love your husband, want to help each other through life and want to have society recognize and help you maintain that union. Yeah, that's it!

Well, Deborah, I totally understand! The same reasons you don't want to be "just pals" with your husband are why we want to be married and recognized.

I am a heterosexual, catholic woman and I believe that equal rights are necessary for all. I also believe in the separation of church and state. When a couple wants to get married all they legally need to do is apply for a marriage license from the state where they will be wed. There are plenty of people who choose to get married without a religious aspect to the ceremony/celebration, but if they want to have that marriage recognized by their religion they must also request that recognition. The important aspects of a marriage are love, trust, and commitment - plenty of heterosexual couples don't have these elements when they choose to get married - why prevent homosexuals who do from getting married?

You asked:

"And for those who have suggested that being gay is a choice or a "preference", PLEASE explain to us in detail, the exact moment when you decided to be straight, instead of being gay."

Hmmm...well, it was either in 2nd grade, when the cute blond girl in my class kissed me....or when I was at the UW IMA with my brother when I was about 10 and a gay pedophile tried to fondle my stuff and get me to go into the shower with him.

Christians: leave God out of this. Separation of church and state, remember? Gay people aren't asking your church to recognize their union.

Not everyone in this state is a Christian. It's not the right of Christians to impose their religious beliefs on others.

Try debating this issue without using the Bible as a base of logic, since any religious argument is based purely on faith, not logic.

I got married because I was in the Navy and I got pregnant. When our son was born and his birth certificate was processed through we got a noticed from Department of Health and Welfare in Southern Ca asking if I wanted to have the father's wages garnished for child support. This was asked because my now husband was also in the Navy and we were not married yet. I don't mind that these people want to be together just don't make it appear as though your relationship is like mine because it is not. Bottom line is this, love who you want; just don't shove it down my throat! I am respectful of who is around me and I don't and haven't flaunted my heterosexual relationship in public. My marriage is recognized differently than yours by the simple fact that when we had our children they were a product of the love we shared in the privacy of our home. We have raised our children to be open minded and to make decisions based on what they feel is right for them. If any of our children decide this is the lifestyle they want, my feelings about gay marriage will remain the same. I can never doubt their love for their partner; after all I taught them how to love.

To those of you who love to use the term "homophobe" to label anyone who disagrees with your "choice" of lifestyle: You are just as biased and prejudiced as you claim WE are! It is not FEAR of homosexuals that drive our point of view. And it's plain insulting that you seek to marginalize and ridicule us because we don't see it your way. I have just as much right to my beliefs as you. Just because you call something "progressive" and "enlightened" does not mean that it is good for society as a whole! Why can't you just practice your way of life in private and stop trying to force the rest of us to accept or like it?

While I don't particularly care one way or the other whether gays get married or not, the laws affect more than just that. It affects an area that wasn't anticipated and that is adoption. Gay/lesbian agenda includes the minimization of biological family and extended family rights and importance. Also, gay marriage has been pushed up to one of the five most urgent issues in America and I fail to see the importance. Gays/lesbians have been boinking since almost time began. What is so urgent about it now? It is not that big of an issue. What is an issue, is when their "rights" begin to challenge the mainstream rights in adverse ways. They are loud, aggressive, constantly threatening lawsuits and legislators are afraid to challenge their agenda. If the rest of us were as vocal as they are in topics that really are important, then we wouldn't be paying for the bailout.

Same Sex marriage not just in Washington State but thoughout the nation-should be legal period.
We must look back and ask ourself " did we learn anything what so ever from mistakes of the past",meaning racial discrimination that took place? I am aware it still is rampant in our world, that still does not make it right.

Want the truth? Pass laws that protect everyone.. with equality... want to lie? sit on your own face and see the world with a differant set of eyes.

In my previous post-I did not tell anyone of which I should that I am a cable television producer.
I have covered this issue many times over, and will soon again.
If you want to be a guest on the show to talk about this contact me.
Nonetheless, It is awful sad to know that people still hate and discriminate against Gay and lesbian's, just because of their own relationships.
In canada, we can reflect there-not one hetro marriage in that entire country has been "threatend" because of same sex marriage being legal.

In Denmark- not one hetro marriage there has been tormented because of marriage equality.
If I were the Honorable Govenor of Our state,
I would demand equality when it comes to marriage.
If hetro's have such a fetish on the word "marriage", maybe that single word should be given and afforded to the GLBT community.
OR- just allow everyone to enter into "civil unions" of which marriage is.

2067369688 Id love to hear comments

Can anyone tell me the difference between two guys having sex and a man and a animal, say a dog or a horse having sex? Is there a difference?

The constitution says that individuals have a right to the pursuit of happiness, right? But what if I my happiness conflicts with your happiness? Say, the only way to make me happy is to kill you...Just because the constitution allows individuals to follow a pursuit of happiness does not mean it allows individuals to do as they please.

Besides that, the original idea from John Locke was "life, liberty, and property," but Thomas Jefferson chose to changed it to "happiness." Before making conclusions about the constitution, it would be wise to find about the actual meaning of pursuit of happiness.

For all you people Trying to Qoute the Constitution of US and or the Decleration of Independance

heres a hint
look back at the contence of the 1700's
all men are created equal
ALL MEN are created equal
was there any same sex marriges back then
i dont think so
why change what these important document say about our country back then to make them more modern why are people trying to bend what is the truth??
America
love it or leave it

"Can anyone tell me the difference between two guys having sex and a man and a animal, say a dog or a horse having sex? Is there a difference?"

Silly - we as human beings are designed to be attracted to men and women HUMANS. I mean if you can't tell the difference between humans having sex with humans and humans having sex with other species what can we say? I mean why aren't you confused with the difference between a man and a woman having sex and a man and a horse?

"But what if I my happiness conflicts with your happiness? Say, the only way to make me happy is to kill you"

Which is the whole point of having laws - to adjudicate between different individual's rights with the guiding principle of US law being that each citizen is supposed to have the greatest latitude possible.

I think the main issue is not "changing" documents that were created many years ago-but rather to include not exclude same sex marriage.
I think it is important that we as Americans-stand for diversity, understand that by not accepting others for who they are, you yourself loose out on your own full potential.

Marriage Equality is coming to America if we like that or not. Its not a matter of " if" but when.
When our laws, and the people of our land see that two people in loving relationships should be afforded marriage rights as anyone else.
That is part of the American dream.

Remember, you cant judge a book by the number of pages in it, but rather by the content of each page.

Ignorance is alive and well in Washington State! The degree of religion-based fear in these comments is astounding. The additional benefits, while nice, still fall short of equality, because when you leave the state, the registry and domestic partner benefits do not follow you! But it is a good step toward gaining more stability for the hundreds of families affected by the lack of protection afforded same-sex couples and their families.

Thank God that finally me, my wife and our kids have more of the same legal rights that we would have had years ago if one of us was a man. All we want to have are the same benefits or marriage and now we will be able to...in Washington at least. Now, we have to work on being federally recognized!

Amen! To be federally recongized is the ticket.
Here is a news flash though: The state can pass about anything they desire for marriage equality, but until the Federal government endorses or otherwise makes legal same sex or "sex nuteral " marriage- there will not be what we within the GLBT community are asking and hoping for.
File joint tax, be able by law to claim social security bennefits, just to name a couple. ( sorry about the spelling there :) but I am extremely exited about the events in our home state.
I look to preform even more same sex marriages, in the future- and on our television program to once again talk about it.
I do long to do a same sex wedding live on our show in the future. I can see that the future of our state is brighter now, dispite other persons who do not believe that same sex couples should have any rights at all.. exept the right to be born, and die. Between birth and the grave we want rights, want chance and want our own family.

Thats not much to ask of any lawmaker.

BobVB said

"Can anyone tell me the difference between two guys having sex and a man and a animal, say a dog or a horse having sex? Is there a difference?"
-- Bob, if you do not understand the difference here there is something wrong in your thinking process.
Now hear me clearly Bob, offering same sex or "sex nuteral" marriages does not demonstrate any single sexual orentation, nor does it involve sexual relations.

Human beings were created to be joined to a partner, someone whom humans can love, and someone who you trust. The issue of "gay sex" is not on the table here. I for one, am not asking what you do in your bedroom nor should you ask what is going on in mine.
The fact is simple, marriage equality is comming, and sooner than what people think.
It is a most historic time in America to live in this great land, and for once.. have a few who stand up for issues that do matter.
The state of Washington has afforded some rights toward Gay and Lesbian's, but.. its not enough.
)We need to see the law changed by one word, and by doing so, it will give complete equality to persons no matter if they are gay or not.

It is not a matter of sexual relationship's with animals, and shame on you for even thinking like that.
When you get your head out of the gutter, then maybe you can hold a conversation about this issue.
Until America gets their head out of everyone elses bedrooms- our own bedroom will be in vain.

Feel free to contact me Bob, Ill be glad to speak with you off the blog.

"If you can't tell the difference between a horse and another human being, what more can we say?"

Well put.

How on earth have Lesbians or Gays ever hurt you?

As for the guy that wrote that he was almost attacked at 10 years old by a 'gay' pedophile, do some research on pedophiles. Pedophilia is a crime of opportunity. The pedophile doesn't care which sex they attack as long as they get one of us. Got it? And btw, throwing us in with perverts is as hateful a statement as ever there was.

Keep your laws off our bodies. I love my wife (Yes, we married in Canada) and our 4 children. So many of you stated 'straight' people protest just a wee bit too much...if I was your spouse, I'd be watching your actions and making you account for lost time...anyone who's that interested in other people's 'family' life is up to no good.

For those that have equated love with sex here, grow up. Making love is not an 'act'.

Religious nuts? As was already stated here--if you don't want to marry someone of the same gender, DON'T. End of problem.

Anyone who against gay marriage are ppl whom feel very much insecure of what the gays would bring...

- Better relationship
- Better family value
- More happiness and satisfaction

Many ppl in this country especially those religious group, need to learn to live with other ppl that is outside their box. Just go and pray that we all whom are not in trust of your god burn in hell and feel better, then let other do what they choose to do and live with them. Knowing that u will go to heaven and they will go to hell, u will feel better. Let your god, as u so very much believe in do the judgement at the end of time, instead of you stepping his toe, remember u will be burn to hell if u do... u will lost heaven forever.

Go washington, hope that u are the first to allow and keep same sex marriage.

I fully support Domestic Partnership laws but they should not be limited to gay couples. That would be discrimination. These laws should not be based on any type of sexual partnership whatsoever. They should not be religious or tradition based.

We should have laws that allow for each adult to have a domestic partnership with one other adult no matter what the relationship of those two adults is as long as those two adults are financially responsible for one another and reside in the same residence. This could be two sisters, two brothers, a brother and sister, two cousins, an adult mother and daughter or Father and Son. Two single adults of ANY kind.

I believe that Marriage is a tradition and relationship between and man and a woman. It is also traditionally religious. There is nothing wrong with maintaining traditions. We don't need to throw the baby out with the bath water.

We do however, need to provide domestic partnership for ALL domestic adult couples of any type whatsoever.

Domestic partnerships should be legal and binding between ANY two adults and would need a legal dissolution. These same non-discriminating, non sexual based domestic partnerships should be recognized by both state and Federal governments and be equal but separate to Marriage. - that's my two cents. Thank you.

I fully support Domestic Partnership laws but they should not be limited to gay couples. That would be discrimination. These laws should not be based on any type of sexual partnership whatsoever. They should not be religious or tradition based.

We should have laws that allow for each adult to have a domestic partnership with one other adult no matter what the relationship of those two adults is as long as those two adults are financially responsible for one another and reside in the same residence. This could be two sisters, two brothers, a brother and sister, two cousins, an adult mother and daughter or Father and Son. Two single adults of ANY kind.

I believe that Marriage is a tradition and relationship between and man and a woman. It is also traditionally religious. There is nothing wrong with maintaining traditions. We don't need to throw the baby out with the bath water.

We do however, need to provide domestic partnership for ALL domestic adult couples of any type whatsoever.

Domestic partnerships should be legal and binding between ANY two adults and would need a legal dissolution. These same non-discriminating, non sexual based domestic partnerships should be recognized by both state and Federal governments and be equal but separate to Marriage. - that's my two cents. Thank you.