Nike, Starbucks, Microsoft
Join Law Makers For 'Gay Sex Marriage'
What? More about Starbucks? I'm gonna give up on their coffee - really! - says popular Muslim speaker Yusuf Estes, founder of Guide US TV
Same-sex marriage now has the backing of well known businesses, including Microsoft Corp, Nike Inc. and the famous coffee empire - Starbucks Corp.
After considerable pressure from 'Gay Sex Rights' advocates, retail outlets, beverage companies and even manufacturers in the Northwest part of the United States are also joining along with states making it legal for 'Same-SeX' relationships to be lawful marriages.
Washington State, the seventh state to sign into law a 'Gay Marriage' bill, has joined the other six states by legalizing 'same-sex' marriage.
Gay sex rights advocates rejoice in what they consider a major victory for their cause today.
As the Democratic governor signed the legislation Monday, a man shouted, "Do not betray Christ!"
But his voice was drowned out by the Gay Sex Marriage supporters. They shouted loudly over his voice, screaming, cheering and overwhelmed him with their voices.
Bob Struble, 68, of Bremerton, was removed from the room and said he was given a warning by security.
Mr. Struble said he believes the state will halt gay marriage in a public vote.
"We'll be doing everything we can to overturn this unfortunate law," Struble said.
Audrey Daye, of Olympia, cried as she watched Gregoire sign the bill into law. Daye, who grew up with two moms, brought her 7-year-old son, Orin, with her to watch the bill signing.
"I am so proud that our state is on the right side of history," she said.
Washington Signs 'Gay Sex Bill'
Same-Sex Marriage OK in 7 States
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - Gov. Chris Gregoire handed gay rights advocates a major victory Monday, signing into law a measure that legalizes same-sex marriage in Washington state, making it the seventh in the nation to allow gay and lesbian couples to wed.
Gregoire signed the bill surrounded by gay rights supporters. "I'm proud our same-sex couples will no longer be treated as separate but equal," she said.
Gay Sex Marriage promoters say they will celebrate victories first, then engage in heavy campaign battle.
"You have to relish this moment," said 31-year-old Bret Tiderman of Seattle.
The state reception room at the Capitol was packed with hundreds of gay rights supporters and at least 40 lawmakers from the House and Senate to watch Gregoire sign the bill.
It's a historic moment for the state, but same-sex couples can't walk down the aisle just yet.
The law takes effect June 7, but opponents on multiple fronts already are preparing to fight.
Please take time to carefully read the NOTES here and then act according to your beliefs and convictions.
___ Note: Story Not Over Yet: This story is not over yet. There are some very important and critical points to consider and act upon if you want to have your opinion heard in the right places.We'll note some of these points in the article below, inshallah.
___ Note: Opponents Taking Action: Those who opposed the 'Gay Sex Marriage' bill are taking action to prevent this bill (and other similar bills) from taking affect or overturn bills already signed into law.
___ Note: Opponents Need Signatures: Opponents filed Referendum 73 Monday afternoon. If they collect the more than 120,577 valid voter signatures by June 6, the law will be put on hold pending the outcome of a November vote. Separately, an initiative was filed at the beginning of the legislative session that opponents of gay marriage say could also lead to the new law being overturned.
___ Note: Gay Senator Behind Gay Sex Rights: Sen. Ed Murray, a Seattle Democrat who is gay and has sponsored gay rights legislation for years, told the cheering crowd: "My friends, welcome to the other side of the rainbow. No matter what the future holds, nothing will take this moment in history away from us."
___ Note: House Passed Bill that Senate Approved: The House passed the bill on a 55-43 vote last Wednesday. The Senate approved the week before.
___ Note: Rick Santorum, Presidential Candidate Opposes Gay Sex Marriage: Meanwhile, Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum, who opposes gay sex marriage, was in town speaking with conservative voters. Santorum also met with Republican lawmakers at the Capitol Monday afternoon.
Santorum said he encouraged gay sex marriage opponents "to continue the fight."
"There are ebbs and flows in every battle, and this is not the final word," he said.
___ Note: U.S. Gov. Says BAN Unconstitutional: Gregoire's signature comes nearly a week after a federal appeals court declared California's ban on gay marriage unconstitutional, saying it was a violation of the civil rights of gay and lesbian couples.
___ Note: Judges Give Time for Appeals: A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals gave gay marriage opponents time to appeal the 2-1 decision against Proposition 8 before ordering the state to allow same-sex weddings to resume. The judges also said the decision only applies to California, even though the court has jurisdiction in nine Western states.
Washington state has had domestic partnership laws since 2007, and in 2009 passed an "everything but marriage" expansion of that law, which was ultimately upheld by voters after a referendum challenge.
The coalition of opponents that filed Monday's referendum is called "Preserve Marriage Washington."
"I think in the end, people are going to preserve marriage," said Joe Fuiten, senior pastor at Cedar Park Church in Bothell who is involved in the referendum effort.
___ Note: Organization Successfully Overturned Laws: The Washington, D.C.-based National Organization for Marriage, which was involved in ballot measures that overturned same-sex marriage in California and Maine, has promised to work with Preserve Marriage Washington to qualify the referendum to overturn the new law.
___ Note MONEY COSTS: Christopher Plante, a regional coordinator from NOM, attended the referendum filing and said that his group will be offering technical assistance to Preserve Marriage Washington, helping them gather signatures and raise money. He said that the campaign is likely to be expensive, estimating that between $2 million and $6 million could be spent on each side of the campaign.
Separately, an anti-gay marriage initiative was filed at the beginning of the session, but the language is still being worked out so no signatures have been collected yet. An initiative alone would not pause the law.
___ Note: A campaign has already formed to fight any challenge to the new law. "Washington United for Marriage," a coalition of gay marriage supporters, formed in November to lobby the Legislature to pass the measure and to run a campaign against any referendum challenging it.
___ Note: Gay marriage is legal in New York, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Washington, D.C.
___ Note: The New Jersey Senate advanced a gay marriage bill Monday, and a vote is expected in the New Jersey Assembly on Thursday. Gov. Chris Christie, who is pushing for a public vote on the issue, says he'll veto the bill if it comes to his desk.
Legislative committees in Maryland heard testimony on gay marriage last week, and Maine could see a gay marriage proposal on the November ballot.
Proposed amendments to ban gay marriage will be on the ballots in North Carolina in May and in Minnesota in November.
___ Note: The gay marriage bill is Senate Bill 6239.
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