What impact will Prop 8 decision have on gay marriage in Washington?

BY KIRO Radio Staff  on February 8, 2012 @ 6:16 am (Updated: 8:51 am - 2/8/12 )

AP: 0b171ebe-5391-4218-96f3-2a3b8a4a832d
Prop 8 plaintiffs: Sandy Stier, left, and Kris Perry, listen to the American Foundation for Equal Rights' council commenting on the announcement of California's same-sex marriage ban to be unconstitutional, in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) | Zoom
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With the State House expected to vote on legalizing gay marriage in Washington state on Wednesday, many are now curious what impact a federal judge's ruling will have on Washington.

A federal appeals court has decided that California's ban on same sex marriage was unconstitutional.

"I think the decision in the Prop 8 case would have implications for Washington as well," said University of Washington Law Professor Peter Nichols.

The Legislature is set to approve a measure that would legalize gay marriage in Washington state.

The House is expected to begin debate on the bill at 1 p.m. Wednesday. The measure passed in the Senate last week on a 28-21 vote, and it is expected to easily pass in the House. Once passed by the Legislature, Gov. Chris Gregoire is likely to sign the bill into law next week.

Because there is no emergency clause on the bill, the law wouldn't take effect for 90 days. Opponents have already promised a referendum battle at the ballot, so it's likely it could be put on hold pending the outcome of a November election.

But Nichols says if Washington state's gay marriage bill is overturned by voters using a referendum, the federal appeals court ruling could be used to reverse the decision.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

KIRO Radio Staff, Staff report
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Comments (12)


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  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    A federal appeals court has decided that California's ban on same sex marriage was unconstitutional.
    February 8, 2012 6:38 am
    Please tell me of how something that is not even mentioned in our US Constitution be called unconstitutional? The very people who just last week hated our Constitution are now self proclaimed Constitutional Scholars? Especially the 14th amendment. The meaning of this amendment that has been filter by the ministry of Obama re immac propaganda for the useful idiots here in America.
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  • Angry Monkey wrote...
    haha
    February 8, 2012 9:59 am
    Here is how I picture you: fingers in your ears, screaming at the top of your lungs, "I can't hear you! I can't hear you!"

    Here, read the comments again. Pay close attention to the comments that mention the Equal Protection Clause.

    http://mynorthwest.com/public/comment/group/cms/425948?page=0#comments

    Also, see if this helps:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equal_Protection_Clause

    Pro Tip: Read the whole thing, don't just skim the document looking for the word "marriage", you won't find it.

    And get over yourself, no one here is trying to get you banned from these boards.

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  • SALIFE wrote...
    Between a MAN and WOMEN!!!!!
    February 8, 2012 9:45 am
    NO TO GAY marriage!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    Angry Monkey wrote...
    February 8, 2012 1:00 pm
    Very descriptive. I picture you as somenoe who sits in front of the TV way to close and watches MSNBC for hours on end with a blank stare and drooling as your daily indoctronation from the ministry of Obama re immac is being performed on you and the other Left wing Parrots.

    Go look up the actual 14 amendment as originally written and tell me were it even mentions marriage! Then get back to me on this your homework assingment ASAP!. Points will be given if you actually respond to this without sidestepping the question.

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  • Angry Monkey wrote...
    haha
    February 9, 2012 9:23 am
    Ah. classic you. Invoke your typical "MSNBC, left-wing parrots" whenever you run out of arguments, or can other wise no longer defend your position.

    Read what I wrote on Tuesday again, slowly, and carefully.

    "In fact, one could argue that the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution, specifically the Equal Protection Clause, would give same sex couples the right to marry, since that particular clause has been, over the years, applied to other minority groups that routinely face discrimination."

    "I was not around when the founders wrote the Constitution, however I'd venture to guess there is nothing in the Constitution about marriage, because the founders did not feel the need for government to have a say in Every. Little. Detail. of our lives. But that is just my theory.

    The ban is unconstitutional because it is in violation of the 14th amendment, which guarantees equal protection under the law."

    I have looked up the 14th amendment, and no, marriage is not specifically mentioned in the 14th amendment, however, I never claimed that it was. What I'm saying is, that it is unlawful for government, be it city, county, state, or federal to discriminate against anyone, minority or not, for any reason, as outlined in the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th amendment, which grants all citizens equal rights.

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  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    And get over yourself, no one here is trying to get you banned from these boards.
    February 8, 2012 1:03 pm
    Not that I could care any less, but ask your equally brainwashed comrade Long way home. That was her hangup some months back.,

    I laughed so hard at that that my sides hurt.

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  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    Classic comment that you watch MSNBC?
    February 9, 2012 9:01 pm
    Where else do you get this brainwashing then?

    Even your own post states that Marriage is not even mentioned in the Constitution, specifically the 14th amemdment as originally written, so how can something NOT mentioned in the Constitution be made unconstitutional? Since marriage is not addressed in the Constitution will you Left wing Parrots go as far as to say that actual marriage (One man and one woman) is unconstitutional while this government recognizes and sactions same sex union?

    By your "Logic", AM, this would be the case.

    "I feel that we have awoken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve!" Admiral Yamamoto after the Japanesse attack on Pearl Harbor. This is what this out of control Liberalism and this regime is doing to the American people.

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  • Angry Monkey wrote...
    haha
    February 9, 2012 10:38 pm

    "Even your own post states that Marriage is not even mentioned in the Constitution, specifically the 14th amemdment as originally written, so how can something NOT mentioned in the Constitution be made unconstitutional?"

    It is not a marriage issue, I've never said it was a marriage issue. It is a discrimination issue. That is what the 14th amendment protects against, discrimination. It is discriminatory for government to make laws that prohibit one group of people from doing something that the rest of a population can do.

    I can't explain it any more clearly than that, If you can not comprehend basic English, then there is really no where else to go with this.

    And what is with this fascination you have with MSNBC? It's like you bust out the MSNBC line whenever you lose an argument. Don't get me wrong, your "MSNBC, left-wing-parrots" line is a great little flag for me, as it signals to me that you have run out of arguments to make, and I can just skip over the rest of your nonsense. I'm just curious is all.

    You do know that your "Admiral Yamamoto" quote there is from the movie Tora Tora Tora right?

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  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    Yes you have, AM
    February 10, 2012 5:38 am
    This is what you and the rest of the moronic Parrots are basing your "arguments" from. And now you are backtracking like crazy because I am correct and you are know this to be true.

    What effect will the overturning of the will of the voters of CA. have in this state? The question is, What effects will this have on the Liberals, ignoring the will of us Americans, AGAIN, have on their chances at re election and the slim at best chances of re immaculation of the Dear Leader? It definantly WON'T help!

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  • Angry Monkey wrote...
    haha
    February 10, 2012 10:27 am
    "Yes you have, AM"

    Yes I have.... what? What are you talking about?

    I'm not back tracking on anything. re-read any one of my previous posts. I have consistently stated that this is a equal rights, discrimination issue. And there is four days worth of posts on this site to back me up. Links are provided earlier in this thread.

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  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    I have consistently stated that this is a equal rights, discrimination issue.
    February 10, 2012 1:15 pm
    What of the rights, the discrimination by the Liberals, against the will of the CA voters? What if I wanted to join a Homosexual baseball team and was refused simply for being a normal male? Do I go screaming Hetrophobia and bigotry through the street and the news because of it? Do I try to get the government to force the masses to accept me and my lifestyle? Homosexuals do exactly this when they don't their way.

    Yes you, AM, have backtracked and jump around and projected your bogus argument for the last four days and longer. You have NO ARGUMENT. I know that MSNBC brainwashed you to think that you do. So why not go live on a left wing blog site? At least there you will not have to deal with me and nobody will point out your falsehoods and the fact that you don't even know what planet you live on!

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  • Angry Monkey wrote...
    And we are done here
    February 10, 2012 6:45 pm
    AH-HAHAHAHAHAH... "So why not go live on a left wing blog site?" I thought this was a "left-wing blog site", isn't that what you and others are constantly accusing KIRO, MyNorthwest, and Dave & Luke every other day?

    Look, all the evidence that you need that I have been consistent in my arguments, that I have not back tracked, or jumped around the issue, is right here on this page. If you can not be honest about that, then there is no point in continuing this debate.

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