Love Equally: The Journey to Marriage Equality
Success is measured in increments. And we're still dismantling barriers.
-Representative Laurie Jinkins
The success of the marriage equality movement stunned even its advocates. The transformation from “outlaws to in-laws” was one of swiftest turnarounds in US civil rights history. As recently as 2006, Washington state law allowed job discrimination against gays and lesbians, and the state Supreme Court banned same-sex marriage.
Bruised but not beaten, LBGTQ+ advocates tried a brick-by-brick approach. They got domestic partnerships passed in three phases, capped by an “everything but marriage” law. Marriage equality landed on Washington’s November ballot in 2012. Devastating votes against same-sex marriage in other states—31 losses without a win—informed a new strategy. It would shift debate from the head to the heart.
Same-sex marriage was won in 2012 after advocates concentrated their message in a single word: love. Legacy Washington interviewed politicians, activists, judges, journalists, and more to bring you the story of how marriage equality came to the Evergreen State.
- Download Love Equally (PDF)
- TVW: Governor Gregoire Signs Civil Marriages and Domestic Partnership Bill
Featured Profiles
Cal Anderson, Marsha Botzer, Grethe Cammermeyer, Pete Francis, Chris Gregoire, Jeff Hedgpeth & John Medlin, Laurie Jinkins, Anne Levinson, Jamie Pedersen, Manny Santiago, Maureen & Shauna Walsh, Mary Yu, David Ammons
Project Sponsors
Acknowledgments
We are grateful to the many individuals and organizations that provided expertise, artifacts, time, and financial support for this project:
- Catherine Ahl
- ALL Foundation of Washington
- David Ammons
- Gary Atkins
- Gail Basso Girtz
- Miriam Bausch
- Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice
- Frank Blethen
- Randy & Brigitte Bolerjack
- Miriam Campbell
- Tracey Carlos
- Emily Cofer
- Sarah Cofer
- Carter Cofer
- Stephanie Coontz
- Scott Douglas
- Sandy Deneau Dunham
- Carolyn Dimmick
- Sandy Dunham
- Pat & Susan Dunn
- Wayne Ehlers
- David Elliott
- Candace Espeseth
- Jay Fredericksen
- Gibbons Lane Winery LLC
- Greater Seattle Business Association
- Stuart Halsan
- Bettina Hansen
- Jeffrey Hedgepeth & John Medlin
- Ben Helle
- Heather Hirotaka
- Patsy & John Hughes
- Sasha Issenberg
- William Jacobs
- Yvonne Jump
- David Kimball Hansen
- Quentin King & Glen Kriekenbeck
- Barbara Kinney
- Kristie & Allen Kirkpatrick
- Carolyn Lakewold
- Robert Lane
- Renee Lewis
- Amy Lin
- Ilona Lohrey
- Frank Mahood
- Laurie P Maricle
- Alex McGregor
- Kevin McKenna
- Victoria Metz
- Steve Miletich
- Laura Mott
- Museum of History and Industry
- Patricia Nadolny
- Valarie Nelson
- Bao Nguyen
- Trova O'Heffernan
- Jose Oliva
- Thomas Oliva
- Gabby Oliva
- Estela Ortega
- Brian & Christine Peck
- Aaron Peplowski
- Kylie Phillips
- Stephanie Prentice
- Tom Quigg
- Amber Raney
- Bill Reader
- Cassidy Rehwaldt
- Robin Ritterhoff
- Aurora San Miguel
- Shawn Schollmeyer
- Seattle Gay News
- The Seattle Times
- Zach Silk
- Martin J. Smith
- Ruth Steel
- Mary Thornton
- Betsy Vandrush-Borgacz
- Sharon Vormestrand
- Shauna Walsh
- Washington Legislative Photo Services
- Washington State Archives
- Washington State Library
- Barbara Wechsler
- WWU Center for Pacific Northwest Studies
- Mary Whisner
- Charlie and Mrs. Nancy Wiggins
- Adam Williams
- Claudia Yaw
- Bob Young
Legacy Washington is a program of the Washington State Archives
Our Mission
“...to record and document oral histories of current and former members and staff of the Washington state executive and judicial branches, the state’s congressional delegation, and other citizens who have made indelible contributions to the political history of Washington state.” (RCW 43.07.363)
Support Legacy Washington
Washington State Archives Legacy Project is funded in part by the nonprofit ALL Foundation of Washington. Your financial contributions support our public events and the production and distribution of our publications and exhibits.