Washington State Supreme Court rules on gay marriage

AP: Wednesday, July 26th, 2006
OLYMPIA -- The Washington Supreme Court has upheld the state ban on gay marriage. In the 5-4 decision, the court says state lawmakers have the power to restrict marriage to heterosexual couples. The court says the Washington Defense of Marriage Act is constitutional. It defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman. The law was challenged by 19 gay and lesbian couples. Two years ago King and Thurston county judges found the ban unconstitutional. Lawyers for gay couples said it violates the state Equal Rights Amendment and grants marriage privileges to one group, but not another. Lawyers for the state say Washington has an interest in regulating relationships that produce children. Today's decision leaves Massachusetts as the only state to allow homosexual couples to wed. Forty-five states ban gay marriage.