Will Washington State have the next gay marriage ban?

Foes of same-sex marriage in Washington State have announced a drive to amend the state constitution to ban such unions. The newly formed Allies for Marriage and Children, which includes social conservatives, community activists, and some religious leaders, said it is responding to two recent court rulings that invalidated the state's Defense of Marriage Act. That law, passed in 1998 by the legislature, overriding Gov. Gary Locke's veto, defines marriage as the union of a man and a woman. Many states have passed similar laws as well as constitutional bans, and President Bush and some congressional allies have endorsed an amendment to the U.S. Constitution banning same-sex marriage. The rulings from King County and Thurston County judges are on appeal to the state supreme court. A state constitutional amendment must originate in the legislature, with a two-thirds vote in both chambers, followed by a statewide public vote. State senator Dan Swecker said same-sex marriage will be a hot issue on the campaign trail and that pressure will mount to pass the amendment this winter. But state representative Ed Murray, one of four openly gay men in the house, said the measure is doomed to fail and probably won't even get out of committee. Equal Rights Washington, a group advocating equal treatment for gays, said marriage is "a pro-family ideal" that should be available to all. Children need a safe and loving environment created by nurturing parents, regardless of the couple's gender, the group said. Leaders of Allies for Marriage and Children--described by former Seattle Seahawks football star Jeff Kemp as "broad and diverse"--announced the new effort at the capitol on Tuesday. A handful of legislators attended their news conference. "Marriage needs to be strengthened, not redefined," said Kemp, executive director of the Bellevue-based Families Northwest. The next step will be to advocate for a constitutional amendment, he said. Sponsors have not been lined up. Although the original Defense of Marriage Act passed by at least a two-thirds vote in both houses, it will be an uphill battle to change the constitution, he said. The language of the amendment hasn't been firmed up. It could simply enshrine the state ban in the constitution or could attempt to declare that the legislature, not the courts, is the last word on defining marriage, Kemp said. Equal Rights Washington released statements from eight groups that oppose the ban. "Our families deserve the same rights and respect as any other family," said Bill Dubay, organizer of the state chapter of DontAmend.com. "We have been preparing to face our opponents and will continue to organize and stay active in the political process until all Americans are treated equally under the law."