The National Organization for Marriage
(NOM) has vowed to repeal a proposed gay marriage law being debated
in Washington state.
The Senate
on Wednesday approved the measure with a larger than expected 28
to 21 vote. Supporters outnumber opponents in the House, making a
vote in that chamber just a formality.
Governor Chris Gregoire for the first
time publicly endorsed gay marriage last month, and promised to sign
the bill if it reached her desk.
(Related: Chris
Gregoire urges Americans to support gay marriage.)
NOM President Brian Brown called the
move to legalize such unions “outrageous.”
“The same activists behind this
legislation were barely able to secure passage of civil unions and
now they're back demanding that marriage be redefined. It's
outrageous,” Brown said in a statement. “NOM believes the people
of Washington deserve to decide this issue for themselves, and we are
committed to helping mount a referendum campaign to overturn the law
if it is enacted, just as we did in Maine and California.”
Senator Ed Murray, the chief sponsor of
the bill in the Senate, told the AP that he believes his side would
win if the issue was put on the ballot.
“It will be a tough battle, it will
probably be an ugly battle, but I think we'll win,” Murray said.
Opponents cannot begin a referendum
campaign until after the bill is signed into law. They will need to
collect 120,577 valid signatures by June 6 to put the issue on the
November ballot.
According
to an October survey, only 38 percent of respondents said they
would reject a gay marriage law.
Washington currently recognizes gay and
lesbian couples with domestic partnerships.