The effort to legalize same-sex marriage in Washington got a big boost this week when Senator Mary Margaret Haugen (D-Camano Island) announced she will support legislation that would legalize it. Hers would be the 25th and decisive vote. If approved by the Legislature, Washington would become the seventh state in America to legalize same-sex unions.

Two Tacoma elected officials who are openly gay have been strong supporters of the effort.

"Tacoma led the way. This is long overdue and needed to be done."Ryan Mello, City Councilmember

State Representative Laurie Jinkins (D-27th District) said Jan. 23, when Haugen made her announcement, was "a very exciting day." Haugen is considered more conservative than many of her fellow Democrats. Jinkins feels she made "a very strong statement" with her decision.

She noted there is some support for same-sex marriage among Republicans. The Senate bill has two Republican co-sponsors and some Republican members back the version in the House of Representatives.

Jinkins has received many e-mails from constituents on the topic, with some backing gay marriage and others opposing it. She noted that those in opposition were respectful and thoughtful with their comments.

Several events around the state were held last fall to generate support for same-sex marriage. Jinkins attended all four of them in Pierce County and said about 100 people attended the one in Tacoma.

Jinkins said she appreciated Tacoma City Council officially backing passage of the legislation when they recently approved the city's legislative agenda. A few years ago, the Legislature had passed a domestic partnership bill. Citizens who opposed it filed Referendum 71, which sought to overturn the Legislature's decision. It was defeated at the polls. Jinkins noted a majority of Tacoma voters voted against Referendum 71. "Tacoma has evolved to be very supportive of the gay community."

Jinkins said the Senate is expected to pass its bill out of committee early next week.

City Councilmember Ryan Mello noted Tacoma was the first city in the state to formally support legislation to legalize same-sex marriage. He said Burien and Edmonds have since done so. He thinks it is significant that a city outside King County was the first to take this stance.

"Tacoma led the way. This is long overdue and needed to be done," he remarked.

Mello was at the state capital on Jan. 23 when the Legislature was hearing public testimony. He signed the list to testify but ended up not speaking, allowing his time to be used by others. He met with several legislators and urged them to support the bills.

Mello said many people around town have stopped him to ask for progress updates on the legislation. "Every single day people ask me how they can help," he remarked.

He feels legislators who were on the fence on the issue have decided to support same-sex marriage based on conversations they have had with state residents. These include heterosexual people raised by gay parents and straight parents with gay children. "They have heard from a diverse cross-section of Washington," Mello said. "People are doing a remarkable job of telling their personal stories of why marriage is important to them."

The bill would treat same-sex marriages the same as heterosexual marriage when it comes to laws and benefits, which is a legal step beyond civic unions. Civil unions don't largely allow for powers of attorney, shared federal benefits such as social security or recognition of the relationship outside of the state.