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.”

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