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| Washington joins Maine and Maryland in endorsing same sex marriage | Washington joins Maine and Maryland in endorsing same sex marriage |
| (8 days later) | |
| Washington has become the third state to endorse same sex marriage, delivering a clean sweep of results that have made election night 2012 a key turning point in the battle for gay equality. | Washington has become the third state to endorse same sex marriage, delivering a clean sweep of results that have made election night 2012 a key turning point in the battle for gay equality. |
| Campaigners in the state declared victory on Wednesday, following in the steps of Maine and Maryland where the results were announced on Tuesday night. | Campaigners in the state declared victory on Wednesday, following in the steps of Maine and Maryland where the results were announced on Tuesday night. |
| Voters in Minnesota also rejected a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage in the state. | Voters in Minnesota also rejected a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage in the state. |
| The results mark the first time voters have approved marriage equality at the ballot box. | The results mark the first time voters have approved marriage equality at the ballot box. |
| Freedom to Marry, the campaign to win marriage rights nationwide, said on Wednesday afternoon that a majority of Washington voters had approved Referendum 74, upholding the freedom to marry law passed by the legislature. | Freedom to Marry, the campaign to win marriage rights nationwide, said on Wednesday afternoon that a majority of Washington voters had approved Referendum 74, upholding the freedom to marry law passed by the legislature. |
| "The numbers point to victory," said Zach Silk, a spokesman for Washington United for Marriage. Washington officials will begin issuing marriage licenses for same-sex couples in early December. | "The numbers point to victory," said Zach Silk, a spokesman for Washington United for Marriage. Washington officials will begin issuing marriage licenses for same-sex couples in early December. |
| Previous attempts to achieve same sex marriage rights with a popular vote, including this year in North Carolina, have always resulted in defeat. | Previous attempts to achieve same sex marriage rights with a popular vote, including this year in North Carolina, have always resulted in defeat. |
| The results mean that gay, lesbian and bisexual couples can now marry in nine states. The others, where legislative measures are in place, are Massachusetts, Iowa, Vermont, Connecticut, New Hampshire and New York. Maryland will begin issuing marriage licences to same-sex couples on 1 January. | The results mean that gay, lesbian and bisexual couples can now marry in nine states. The others, where legislative measures are in place, are Massachusetts, Iowa, Vermont, Connecticut, New Hampshire and New York. Maryland will begin issuing marriage licences to same-sex couples on 1 January. |
| Evan Wolfson, founder and director of Freedom To Marry (FTM), said the four wins have solidified the "irrefutable momentum" in favour of same-sex marriage. | Evan Wolfson, founder and director of Freedom To Marry (FTM), said the four wins have solidified the "irrefutable momentum" in favour of same-sex marriage. |
| "It will give greater confidence to the next wave of decision makers, lawmakers and even justices of the supreme court." | "It will give greater confidence to the next wave of decision makers, lawmakers and even justices of the supreme court." |
| Wolfson said there were three reasons for the gains – the cumulative effect of the campaign's efforts to engage the public, the example set in places where same-sex marriage already exists – where people can "see with their own eyes that it helps families and no-one is hurt" – and better-run and earlier campaigns compared to 2008. | Wolfson said there were three reasons for the gains – the cumulative effect of the campaign's efforts to engage the public, the example set in places where same-sex marriage already exists – where people can "see with their own eyes that it helps families and no-one is hurt" – and better-run and earlier campaigns compared to 2008. |
| "My mantra is there is no marriage without engagement. The more we engage with people to think it through, the more support we get." | "My mantra is there is no marriage without engagement. The more we engage with people to think it through, the more support we get." |
| National surveys have shown a softening of attitudes towards same sex marriage. In June, a CNN/ORC International poll found that a majority of Americans approved of legally recognising same sex marriages. | National surveys have shown a softening of attitudes towards same sex marriage. In June, a CNN/ORC International poll found that a majority of Americans approved of legally recognising same sex marriages. |
| Chad Griffin, president of Human Rights Campaign, said in a video posted on their website: "Years from now, we'll remember this election day as the most historic and the most important in the LGBT community." | Chad Griffin, president of Human Rights Campaign, said in a video posted on their website: "Years from now, we'll remember this election day as the most historic and the most important in the LGBT community." |
| However, Wolfson said they still had work ahead of them to achieve full equality. "Although we have tremendous momentum and we now have nine states with the freedom to marry plus the District of Columbia and possibly California, we still have a lot of states where people don't have that freedom. We also have federal marriage discrimination." | However, Wolfson said they still had work ahead of them to achieve full equality. "Although we have tremendous momentum and we now have nine states with the freedom to marry plus the District of Columbia and possibly California, we still have a lot of states where people don't have that freedom. We also have federal marriage discrimination." |
| The Defence of Marriage Act (DOMA), a 1996 federal law, defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman and bars federal recognition of all same sex marriages. With DOMA in existence, the state laws and measures allowing same sex marriage are of limited use. For instance, a couple legally married in New York can be discriminated against in other states, if they move, or receive inheritance in another state which does not recognise the union. | The Defence of Marriage Act (DOMA), a 1996 federal law, defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman and bars federal recognition of all same sex marriages. With DOMA in existence, the state laws and measures allowing same sex marriage are of limited use. For instance, a couple legally married in New York can be discriminated against in other states, if they move, or receive inheritance in another state which does not recognise the union. |
| Tuesday night's biggest election result was also a gain for gay rights advocates, as Barack Obama this year became the first president to publicly support gay marriage. Tammy Baldwin, of Wisconsin, also made history by becoming the first openly gay senator to be elected to the senate. | Tuesday night's biggest election result was also a gain for gay rights advocates, as Barack Obama this year became the first president to publicly support gay marriage. Tammy Baldwin, of Wisconsin, also made history by becoming the first openly gay senator to be elected to the senate. |
| Last year, the Obama administration furthered gay rights with a number of initiatives, including repealing "don't ask don't tell" in the military and giving instructions to the Department of Justice to stop defending DOMA in court, despite having done so in the president's first two years in office. | Last year, the Obama administration furthered gay rights with a number of initiatives, including repealing "don't ask don't tell" in the military and giving instructions to the Department of Justice to stop defending DOMA in court, despite having done so in the president's first two years in office. |
| Obama has spoken repeatedly about repealing DOMA, Wolfson said, but added: "He can't wave a magic wand and make it disappear." Wolfson said that he would work with the president and "push if necessary" for the repeal of DOMA. | Obama has spoken repeatedly about repealing DOMA, Wolfson said, but added: "He can't wave a magic wand and make it disappear." Wolfson said that he would work with the president and "push if necessary" for the repeal of DOMA. |
| Obama has endorsed the Respect for Marriage Act, a bill put forward by FTM to overturn DOMA and the Department of Justice has filed briefs in a case which could strike DOMA down, he said. | Obama has endorsed the Respect for Marriage Act, a bill put forward by FTM to overturn DOMA and the Department of Justice has filed briefs in a case which could strike DOMA down, he said. |
| Campaigners are also watching the supreme court to find out if it will decide to review a 9th circuit court of appeals decision on Prop 8, a ban on same-sex marriage approved by Californian voters four years ago. The decision of a panel of the 9th circuit found the initiative unconstitutionally deprived gay and lesbian couples of marriage rights. | Campaigners are also watching the supreme court to find out if it will decide to review a 9th circuit court of appeals decision on Prop 8, a ban on same-sex marriage approved by Californian voters four years ago. The decision of a panel of the 9th circuit found the initiative unconstitutionally deprived gay and lesbian couples of marriage rights. |
| If the court do not take it up, then same sex marriage is expected to be restored in California. The decision is expected on 20 November. | If the court do not take it up, then same sex marriage is expected to be restored in California. The decision is expected on 20 November. |
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