Washington Governor Chris Gregoire has
urged President Barack Obama to join her in supporting gay marriage.
During an appearance on Sirius XM's The
Michelangelo Signorile Show, Gregoire talked about her recent
endorsement of a bill that seeks to make Washington the seventh state
to legalize gay marriage.
“I wished I could have come to the
point that I am today six years ago, seven years ago, five years
ago,” Gregoire said. “But it took me a journey and ... I'm sorry
that it took me so long as it did. But it's genuine. It's not about
politics. It's very heartfelt. It's about my [Catholic] faith and I
have struggled with it.”
She said that response has been
overwhelmingly positive.
“I've received thousands of emails
and letters and telephone calls. And the one that just hit my heart
was a 16-year-old who said, 'I've thought about suicide, and now that
you've come out as strong as you have, I feel good about myself. And
one day I will not go on bended-knee and ask someone to join me in a
domestic partnership, I'll ask them to marry me.' That's the exact
thing that moved me to where I am and that's only right for our
children in this state and for their parents.”
Obama has said he supports civil unions
for gay couples but recently added that he is “evolving” on
marriage.
“I think, I hope, the president will
evolve in his thinking and his personal journey but I have to respect
the journey he's on,” Gregoire said.
“I believe he will get to where I
found myself, [New York] Governor [Andrew] Cuomo found himself. But
people need to give him the opportunity to get there.”
Supporters of marriage equality say
they have the votes to approve the legislation. However, opponents
have vowed to challenge the law at the ballot box.