For some reason, though, I am much more confident that my prediction will come true. Thank-you for your response.
No same-sex marriage without public vote, senator says
BAYVIEW — Same-sex marriage will not become law in Washington without voter approval, an influential state senator told a raucous Saturday town meeting on Whidbey Island packed with gay rights supporters.
“I will tell you they will not have the votes in the state Senate without a vote of the people,” said state Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano, a 20-year veteran of the Legislature’s upper chamber.
Haugen represents a Republican-leaning Island and Skagit County district that includes liberal pockets, notably South Whidbey, as well as very conservative Oak Harbor. She is usually its only Democratic legislator.
She was confronted Saturday with intense emotion from the liberal end of her constituency. At times, the town hall seemed like a Tea Party confrontation in reverse.
“I must represent the entire 10th District and we have a lot of evangelicals . . .,” Haugen began.
“Don’t even go on,” shouted Laura Taylor, a Clinton resident.
Marriage equality “is going to happen” either this year or in the near future, argued a woman named Chris Berman, standing on a bench in the back. Inevitable or not, “Morally supporting us is very important,” Berman added.
“We are your people,” said Eileen Jackson of Langley.
Haugen kept her cool, confessing — as Gov. Chris Gregoire did last week — that “for me personally this is a tough issue, one of the toughest.” The senator was born on Camano Island and is a lifelong resident of the district she represents. “You can criticize me a lot,” she joked. “I am a big girl and an old girl.”
I’m with Biggirl. I think it won’t be long now when sane and good people are shoved against the wall so much that change will come. Troubles, and change. I mean real change, for the better. As my tagline says.