OLYMPIA -- The U.S. Supreme Court ruling that makes same-sex marriage legal in all states was praised as a landmark that supports personal liberty, and criticized as an infringement on religious freedom in speeches on the Senate floor today.

Sen. Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, said the ruling means he and his husband "don't have to check our marriage license at the border," when traveling to states that banned same-sex marriage until the court ruling struck down those laws.

Washington was at the forefront of recognizing same-sex marriage, Pedersen said, the first to legalize it by legislative action that was later ratified by voters. The state "helped turn around the debate," he said.

But Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley, said the court was restricting the religious freedom of people who oppose same-sex marriage on religious grounds, to recognize something dissenting justices argued is not in the Constitution. That includes merchants who don't want to supply goods or services to same-sex marriages or judges who don't want to perform them because of religious objections, he said.

"A word of caution," Padden said. "There's a lot of people who still believe marriage is between one man and one woman." 

The Legislature is not considering any new laws involving same-sex marriage. Pedersen, Padden and Sen. Marko Liias, D-Lynnwood, all spoke about the court ruling on "points of personal privilege" before the Senate adjourned for the day.

 

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