The Frogman

thedailywhat:

And Then There Were Seven of the Day: “Here in our state we have taken a long and difficult journey, and this is the last step,” declared Governor Christine Gregoire as she signed the bill making same-sex marriages legal in the state of Washington.

The Evergreen State thus joins six other states (MA, NH, VT, CT, IA, NY) and the District of Columbia in recognizing the right of same-sex couples to marry.

The law doesn’t officially take effect until June 7th, meaning opponents have until June 6th to gather the 120,000 signatures necessary to stop same-sex marriages and put the issue on November’s ballot.

In related news, New Jersey’s state Senate today also passed legislation legalizing same-sex marriage, but the Garden State has still a ways to go: Gov. Chris Christie has vowed to veto any same-sex bill that crosses his desk.

[seattlepi / nj / photo: slog.]

barackobama:

guardian:

Photograph: Brian J. Clark/AP

Two women share historic kiss at US Navy ship’s return

For the first time since the repeal of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell,’ a same sex couple takes part in a traditional public embrace.

President Obama signed the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” into law one year ago today.