Washington seventh state to legalize gay marriage

In an emotional ceremony, Gov. Chris Gregoire signed legislation that
makes Washington the seventh state to legalize gay marriage. "Today is a
day that historians will mark as a milestone for equal rights," she
said to an enthusiastic crowd on February 13 at the state capitol in
Olympia.

The House passed the bill with a 55–43 vote five days
earlier, one week after the Senate approved it. The gay marriage law is
slated to take effect June 7.

Opponents, however, are determined
to overturn the measure by collecting enough signatures to send it to
the ballot box. If they collect more than 120,000 names by June 6, as
expected, the law will be put on hold until the November election.