Mukilteo’s two state representatives have announced they support legislation legalizing gay marriage.

 

State Reps. Marko Liias and Mary Helen Roberts, D-Mukilteo, are both co-sponsors of a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage in the state of Washington.

 

“I am a strong supporter for marriage equality for Washington families, and proud to be one of the co-sponsors of the bill,” Liias said, who also co-wrote the bill.

 

As of Monday, both the state House and Senate have enough lawmakers in support of the bill to pass it. The Legislature is expected to pass the bill in February.

 

The Senate last week had been one vote short of the 25 needed for its passage. Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, announced Monday she would support the bill, and became the 25th vote.

 

The House already had enough representatives in support. Gov. Christine Gregoire backs the bill as well.

 

State Sen. Paull Shin, D-Mukilteo, is still an undecided vote, said an Olympia office spokesperson.

 

Sen. Shin and Rep. Roberts did not return The Beacon’s requests for comment by press time.

 

Liias, who is gay, said that he and his partner have been in a domestic partnership for more than a year.

 

He said a domestic partnership provides some but not all of the same legal protections as marriage and doesn’t allow gay and lesbian couples the opportunity to demonstrate their love and commitment to each other.

 

“There really isn’t any good reason to continue to discriminate,” he said. “It’s time that we allow all Washington families that same opportunity.”

 

Public hearings on gay marriage legislation were held Monday in both the House and Senate.

 

Language in the bill would protect the right of religious organizations to decide whom they will or will not marry.

 

“I appreciate that different religious traditions teach different things, but my response to that is we’re talking here about who the state allows to marry, not about who churches decide to marry,” Liias said.

 

“Because of the separation of the church and state… someone else’s religious beliefs to me aren’t a good reason to continue to discriminate.”

 

Additional hearings are scheduled in the House and Senate.

 

Liias said he expects the state Legislature to pass the bill in the first week or two of February.

 

If it passes, Washington would be the seventh state to legalize gay marriage.

 

Liias said the bill’s passage would send a strong message to the country that everybody is welcome in Washington state.

 

“We know that our state is an open and tolerant and accepting place,” he said. “I think that it just sends a really strong message that this is a great place to live and work and raise a family.”