An effort to repeal a gay marriage law
in Washington state was launched by opponents on Monday, just hours
after Governor Chris Gregoire signed the bill into law.
Gay and lesbian couples will be allowed
to marry in the state starting on June 7 provided opponents do not
gather sufficient signatures to put it up for a vote. In that case,
marriage equality would be put on hold pending the outcome of a
November election.
The effort is backed by the National
Organization for Marriage (NOM) and the Family Policy Institute of
Washington.
“Preserving marriage as the union of
one man and one woman is worth fighting for,” said NOM President
Brian Brown. “Marriage is the cornerstone of society that not only
unites a couple to each other, but ensures that any children born of
their union will have the best opportunity to be raised by their own
mother and father. We're committed to giving Washington voters the
right to decide the definition of marriage in their state, just as
voters in 31 other states have been able to do.”
In a statement posted at its website,
the Family Policy Institute of Washington said: “We ARE going to
exercise our right to referendum and reject this law.”
In her remarks before signing the
legislation, Gregoire touched on the upcoming fight to keep the
law in place.
“If asked those questions with their
heads and their hearts, I believe the people of the state of
Washington will say, 'Yes, marriage equality is right for our state
and our time is now. The time is today,'” she said.
Voters in 2009 rejected an effort to
repeal a domestic partnership law which gave gay couples all the
protections of marriage.