Openly gay Washington State Senator Ed
Murray says the public is ready to embrace gay marriage.
Murray is openly talking with media
outlets about introducing a marriage equality bill in Washington
State.
In an interview last week with National
Public Radio (NPR), Murray said recent passage of such a law in New
York had renewed momentum in Washington.
Murray and Representative Jamie
Pedersen, who is also openly gay, have previously sponsored bills
shoring up the state's domestic partnership law.
The latest expansion approved in 2009
gives gay and lesbian couples all the rights and responsibilities of
marriage.
He now tells Spokane-based My Fox 28
that the public is ready for full marriage.
“I think the public is now with us.
And that's why I think we should move it in the Legislature. And
that's why we waited. That's why we did domestic partnership first;
the public wasn't with us yet. I think they are there now.”
“I think we've changed hearts and
minds,” Murray added. (The video is embedded in the right panel of
this page.)
The issue is likely to complicate the
state's gubernatorial election. Democratic Governor Chris Gregoire
singed the original 2006 domestic partnership law and its three
expansions.