Gay Marriage in Washington State Blocked by Proposed Referendum
Reuters’ Laura L. Myers reports that last Thursday, legislation legalizing same-sex marriage was scheduled to become law in the the state of Washington. Yet on Wednesday, gay marriage opponents successfully blocked the legislation from taking effect by submitting about twice the number of required signatures to create a ballot measure to repeal the statute. “Even before the Washington state bill was signed in February, political observers had expected it to be challenged at the ballot box in November,” writes Myers. “The outcome is far from certain, even in a state as politically liberal and Democratic-leaning as Washington.”