By Bruce A. Smith
The Mountain News has received the following information concerning same-sex marriages from the Washington State Department of Health. They report that since legislation was enacted authorizing same-sex marriage, more than 20% of all marriages in the state have been same-sex, with women couples comprising 63%.
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Washington same sex couples: state’s initial marriage data report released
OLYMPIA: Nearly 2,500 same sex couples were married in Washington between December 6, 2012 and March 31, 2013. Same sex marriages represented more than 20 percent of the 11,661 marriages that occurred in Washington during this 16 week period.
Same sex marriages occurred in 35 of Washington’s 39 counties during this time period, which began on the first day same sex couples could legally get a marriage license in the state. More same sex couples were married in King County than in any other county; one-third of the marriages performed in KingCounty during this time period were same sex marriages.
Ferry, Asotin, Garfield, and Wahkiakum counties reported no same sex marriages, so far.
More female couples married than male couples; 63 percent of all same sex marriages were among female couples. Same sex couples may be more likely to travel to Washington to marry. In 14 percent of same sex marriages, both spouses were residents of another state. Among opposite sex couples, both spouses were from another state in only four percent of marriages.
The state health department may not yet have received records for all marriages during the reporting period. Information on a marriage certificate is reported by the couple and officiant. After the ceremony, the officiant files the marriage certificate with the county auditor that issued the marriage license and the auditor files the marriage certificate with the Department of Health.
The Department of Health website (www.doh.wa.gov) is your source for a healthy dose of information. Also, find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
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Sad news. That many more children raised in “not so good” environments. We the people don’t get the reports from grown children from same sex marriages that indicate that it is not what the children would have wanted and state the negatives, even in adulthood. This law should be for WA state only, as the Federal law still protects Tradiional marriage, that is until the administration figures out how to use executive order to change it. And, don’t anyone say that I am discriminating or I am being hateful because I am not. I am exercising my freedom of speech which my gay friends respect.
What sad news, Claudia? Same-sex marraiges are “not so good” enironments? How so? Okay, so you’re a gal who likes Traditional marriage. Not everyone does. My step-kid is part of a same-sex partnership and her 20-year old son seems to be okay. I’ve never heard him utter one word of discomfort about having two moms.
The “step-kid” here, mind if I add my two cents?
Ya know, I do believe that everyone is entitled to their own “free” speech — I’m totally for that right.
You know what else I’m for? EQUAL RIGHTS for ALL under the law. I pay taxes, vote, shop and live in the same country those “good” environments exist in, but I don’t get equal protection or benefits that those living in “good” environments do. This is fair? …and please don’t bring religion into it — what you do in *your* church is your business, and I won’t ask to be married in it.
Thanks for the interesting number crunching Bruce.
Who brought church into the conversation??? I didn’t.
I voted for same-sex marriage because I believe that bit from the Declaration of Independence: ‘Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness…’ should apply to everyone. I’m an older white guy, too. With a girlfriend. (*laughs*) I told a friend once, I support gay marriage, but I won’t kiss the bride at the wedding. We will merely shake hands. I say let them get married. What the hell…why should straight people be the only ones to suffer? *insert smiley face here*