Microsoft, others endorse Wash. state same-sex marriage legislation

[Newsjock]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017284622_gaymarriage20m.html

Microsoft and five other companies endorsed legislation to legalize gay marriage in Washington Thursday, while a state senator who once opposed same-sex marriage said he now supports it.

The announcement by state Sen. Jim Kastama, D-Puyallup, leaves the Senate just one vote short of passing the gay-marriage bill. And the backing by Microsoft, Vulcan, Nike, RealNetworks, Group Health Cooperative and Concur provides momentum as lawmakers prepare for hearings next week on the issue.

Still, Sen. Ed Murray, the bill's sponsor in the Senate, isn't declaring victory.

"It's a significant step. But having lived through trying to find that last vote on the gay- and lesbian civil-rights bill, I am not yet ready to celebrate," said Murray, referring to gay-rights legislation that failed by one vote in 2005 in the Senate.

[RKP5637]

1. K&R !!!