Group forms to support gay marriage
HEATHER WOODWARD THE OLYMPIAN
Capital City Pride Day


Thurston Marriage Equality's free, public forum on same-sex marriage will start at 7 p.m. Wednesday at St. John's Episcopal Church at Capitol Way and 19th Avenue Southeast, Olympia.

Those who believe same-sex marriages should be recognized legally have a new voice in South Sound.

Several Thurston County civil rights groups have banded together to create a coalition, Thurston Marriage Equality. Its goal is to help educate the community about issues surrounding same-sex marriage.

Its first attempt will be at a public forum Wednesday.

"I think the issue has slipped from the public eye," said Anna Schlecht, Thurston Marriage Equality's acting co-chairwoman. "People still have strong feelings about the issue of marriage equality and want to have an opportunity to discuss it."