Haugen Provides Deciding Vote on Same-Sex Marriage Bill

State Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, announced Monday she would support the same-sex marriage bill, providing the deciding 25th vote in the Senate and assuring passage in the Legislature.

The bill is already assured enough votes in the state House for passage, and Gov Christine Gregoire has said she will approve it.

Haugen released a statement Monday saying that she was a devout Christian and that it was a difficult decision for her, but said that it came down to respecting others, even those with differing beliefs. Here is a key portion of her statement:

“For several weeks now, I have heard from the people of my district. They’ve shared what’s in their hearts and minds.

“I have received many letters, emails, phone calls, very heartfelt, from both sides of the issue. I’ve also received a number of very negative comments from both sides.

“For some people, this is a simple issue. I envy them. It has not been simple or easy for me.
“To some degree, this is generational. Years ago I took exception to my parents’ beliefs on certain social issues, and today my children take exception to some of mine. Times change, even if it makes us uncomfortable. I think we should all be uncomfortable sometime. None of us knows everything, and it’s important to have our beliefs questioned. Only one being in this world is omniscient, and it’s not me.

“I have very strong Christian beliefs, and personally I have always said when I accepted the Lord, I became more tolerant of others. I stopped judging people and try to live by the Golden Rule. This is part of my decision. I do not believe it is my role to judge others, regardless of my personal beliefs. It’s not always easy to do that. For me personally, I have always believed in traditional marriage between a man and a woman. That is what I believe, to this day.

“But this issue isn’t about just what I believe. It’s about respecting others, including people who may believe differently than I. It’s about whether everyone has the same opportunities for love and companionship and family and security that I have enjoyed.

“For as long as I have been alive, living in my country has been about having the freedom to live according to our own personal and religious beliefs, and having people respect that freedom.

“Not everyone will agree with my position. I understand and respect that. I also trust that people will remember that we need to respect each other’s beliefs. All of us enjoy the benefits of being Americans, but none of us holds a monopoly on what it means to be an American. Ours is truly a big tent, and while the tent may grow and shrink according to the political winds of the day, it should never shrink when it comes to our rights as individuals.”

Opponents of legalizing same-sex marriage in Washington have vowed to take the issue to the voters.

"This is so much more than a legal debate," testified Joseph Backholm, with the Family Policy Institute of Washington, at a legislative heraring. "The institution of marriage does not belong to the Legislature. It belongs to the people."

For more details, click here for a Seattle Times story.