Lawmakers, Clergy & Civil Rights Groups Urge Washington Court to Rule For Gay Marriage
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff


(Seattle, Washington) Six state legislators and a wide variety of religious organizations, civil rights groups and bar associations filed friend-of-the-court briefs Thursday in support of marriage for same-sex couples in Washington State.

Lambda Legal and the Northwest Women's Law Center filed a lawsuit in state court in March seeking the right to marry for same-sex couples. The briefs filed today urge the court to rule in favor of treating all couples equally.

"Today's filings show that we are not alone. Legislators, communities of faith and so many others see that as long as gay couples cannot marry, they are not being treated equally. It's powerful for the court to hear from such a diverse array of supporters," said Jennifer C. Pizer, Senior Staff Attorney in Lambda Legal's Western Regional Office.

Arguing that the state law excluding same-sex couples from marriage should be struck down, six state legislators -- including one Republican -- filed a brief saying that the "heterosexuals only" rule violates the protections guaranteed by the Washington State Constitution. State Representatives Fred Jarrett (R), Jim Moeller (D), Ed Murray (D) and Sandra Romero (D), as well as State Senators Debbie Regala (D) and Pat Thibaudeau (D) all signed onto the friend-of-the-court brief.