Ed Murray

"Today is a great day of celebration for the tens of thousands of gay and lesbian families in Washington, and for anyone who supports equality in our state and around the country. "While it felt like a crushing blow this fall when R-71 received enough signatures to make the ballot, at the time...

Continue reading →

"Today, our country mourns. "The honorable life of a tireless fighter for the poor and disenfranchised, the inspiration for so many of my generation, and the greatest senator in U.S. history, has come to an end. "As a fellow Irish-Catholic, I and many others credit Sen. Kennedy with aiding...

Continue reading →

Go below the fold for dozens of photos from the Domestic Partnership bill signing. Click here for more....

Continue reading →

“I share the deep disappointment of many over the California Supreme Court decision to uphold the state’s ban on marriage equality.

“The Court’s decision, I believe, goes against the growing realization taking place all across the country that gay and lesbian families deserve equal treatment under the law.

“If the brief back-and-forth history of marriage equality in California teaches us anything, it’s that progess must occur with public involvement and input, one step at a time. There’s no doubt that this is a set-back for gay and lesbian families in California.

“In Washington, we remain dedicated to continuing our conversation with the public and steadily building upon our domestic partnership progress. I’m confident that Washington state will soon be ready to accept – once and for all – full marriage equality for all.”

Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, issued the following statement Monday:

“There can be no question that the landscape of equality for gay and lesbian families is changing, both here and across the nation.

“Today, eleven years after our state established the intolerance of DOMA into law, Washington law will finally treat gay and lesbian families the same as married families.

“Recently, Iowa and Vermont legalized full marriage equality.

“Of course, marriage equality is the final goal for gay and lesbian families here in Washington too. We will pursue full equality, but with our full but cautious commitment.

“Vermont was the first state in the nation to recognize civil unions, but it took another nine years for its Legislature to pass full marriage equality.

“Even before the Governor's action today to sign this bill into law, efforts to repeal our progress via initiative are already under way. They will fail, but the memory of the passage of Proposition 8 to overturn the California Supreme Court's decision to legal marriage equality is fresh in our minds.

“Dialogue is important. Public input is important. Using the legislative process -- rather than the courts -- to achieve our progress is important.

“We will achieve full marriage equality in Washington, but we will be more like Vermont and less like California in order to make it happen.”

###

“I’m confident that Washington voters support gay and lesbian families who work hard, play by the rules, and pay taxes just like all other families.

“People are coming to a growing understanding that gay and lesbian people are their neighbors, their sibilings, their cousins and nieces and nephews. In our communties, they’re our teachers, doctors, police officers, and firefighters.

“In Washington, we value fairness.

“While it’s regretable that a referendum is being filed to undo the progress we made this session to treat gay and lesbian families the same as married families, I don’t believe that voters will decide in November to take away rights from anyone.”

OLYMPIA – Washington citizens registered as domestic partners are a signature away from receiving a broader suite of rights and responsibilities after Senate Bill 5688 passed the Legislature today on a 62-35 vote in the state House. The legislation expands the state’s domestic partnership...

Continue reading →

Seattle Sen. Ed Murray, chairman of the Senate Democratic Caucus, appeared at this afternoon’s press conference to announce new aerospace legislation designed to make the state more competitive to lure industry growth.

“Washington has been good for aerospace and aerospace has been good for Washington,” he said.

You can hear his remarks here.

Sen. Ed Murray invites you to attend a 43rd Legislative District Town Hall!

Sunday, March 29^th, 2009

2pm-3:30pm

Hamilton International School at the Lincoln High Auditorium

4400 Interlake Ave N, Seattle, WA 98105

(The auditorium entrance is on the east side of the building off of Woodlawn Avenue)

Please join me for a discussion about the 2009 legislative session and general questions.