I’ll be brief. I could ramble for days on my joy I feel about our state right now, but I’ll just say a couple things.

First, I’d like to thank Maureen Walsh, Republican Representative from Walla Walla who spoke from her heart regarding same sex marriage. Maureen, your courage to stand up for what is noble, honorable, truthful, and just is likely what got you to where you are today and will keep you there going forward. While Washington is generally split politically by the Cascades, you have done our state a tremendous service by uniting our hearts. Thank you. On behalf of my cousin and her wife and numerous friends who will now be one step closer to having the same rights my wife and I share. Thank you for standing up for the incredible bonds that many people have had for years, but haven’t legally had the representation to claim. For those of you who haven’t seen the video, please take a minute and watch it below.

Second, Governor Gregoire, your leadership over our state has ebbed and flowed over the years, yet you have finally hit your stride on this one pivotal point. I’m elated that you have not only taken this stand, but have also spearheaded the measure. To know that you have personally struggled through your own religious views to come to the consensus that your views shouldn’t be imposed on the freedoms of the people you represent shows maturity and compassion that I hope spreads across our nation. I applaud your fervor to embrace love within our great state, regardless of whether or not it’s bound by the traditional view of marriage. You have done right by our state on this and have set the mark for other governors to hit. As you said in the video below, “religions can decide what they want to do, but it’s not ok for the state to discriminate.” Hat’s off to you Chris.

To all of my friends, family and fellow Washingtonians who embrace love across gender, congratulations. We’re one step closer to compassionate freedom and justice.