The Associated Press
OLYMPIA — Gov. Chris Gregoire today signed a measure legalizing gay marriage in Washington state into law.
The House passed the bill on a 55-43 vote last Wednesday, a week after the Senate approved it. Gregoire signed the bill in the state reception room in the Capitol at 11:30 a.m.
The law takes effect June 7, but opponents have promised to fight back with a ballot measure that would allow voters to overturn it.
If opponents gather enough signatures to take their fight to the ballot, the law is put on hold pending the outcome of a November election. They must turn in more than 120,000 signatures by June 6 to challenge the proposed law. An anti-gay marriage initiative has also been filed. To qualify, 241,153 signatures must be submitted by July 6.
