ON Feb. 13 Washington became the seventh state to legalize gay marriage. Unfortunately, this well-earned victory for equality already faces a two-pronged assault. Opponents of gay marriage are attempting to place on the November 2012 ballot an initiative to (re)define marriage as being “between a man and a woman.” Additionally, opponents are also gathering signatures in hopes of subjecting the new law to a statewide referendum.

While it’s likely that Washington voters would reject these efforts, those who favor marriage equality should not have to wait until November to know the fate of the new law. This is especially true for those most affected by the battle: gays and lesbians, who have had to wait too long for the right to marry the person they love, and should not be forced to endure nine more months of uncertainty.

Fortunately, a mechanism exists for short-circuiting the anti-gay marriage push. Just six days before Gov. Chris Gregoire signed the marriage equality bill into law, the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit struck its own blow for same-sex marriage when it held that California’s Proposition 8 was unconstitutional. Proposition 8 was passed by California voters in 2008 in response to a decision by the California Supreme Court that required the state to recognize gay marriage. Proposition 8 overturned that ruling by amending the state’s constitution to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

Full Story from The Seattle Times

Click here for gay wedding resources in Washington State.

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