The state of Washington looks set to become the seventh state in the United States which allows gay marriage. On Wednesday the senate passed a marriage equality bill by 28-21.
With Washington governor Christine Gregoire having already pledged to sign the legislation, the bill is almost certain to pass through the house within a week. Currently Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont (and the district of Washington D.C.) have made gay marriage legal by state law. Â Washington will become the first West Coast state with marriage equality after a 2008 bill legalising same-sex marriage in California was repealed.
However, even as the bill goes through the house to be passed, rightwing groups are already planning a November referendum to overturn the legislation.