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Equal rights campaigners are today celebrating as Washington became the seventh state in the United States to legalise gay marriage.
Democrat govenor Christine Gregoire signed off on the measure which makes same-sex marriage legal on Monday.
Gregoire, a devout catholic, said after the signing of the bill that she is proud of the state as it stands for equality. “I ask all Washingtonians to look into your hearts and ask yourselves – isn’t it time? … We in this state stand proud for equality,” she said according to a Reuters report.
Opponents of the new law have already launched a campaign to overturn the law through a referendum. If they collect the more than 120,577 valid voter signatures by 6 June, the law will be put on hold pending the outcome of a November vote, and if not, it will come into effect on 7 June.
