New effort for gay marriage in Wash.

KOIN:

SEATTLE (AP) — A new effort has begun to legalize gay marriage in Washington state.The Seattle Times reports gay marriage backers believe the time has come to take another step toward equal marriage rights for same-sex couples.Two years ago, the Legislature passed the domestic partnership law nicknamed "everything but marriage."Now gay-marriage supporters want Washington to become the seventh state to legalize marriage of gay and lesbian couples.A coalition of dozens of gay-rights, civil-liberties, labor and religious groups say they'll pressure the Legislature to pass a marriage equality law in 2012. They are prepared to defend it from any referendum challenge.Their effort begins Monday with a Bellevue news conference, followed by a series of suburban town halls to show support for gay marriage outside of liberal Seattle.___Information from: The Seattle Times, http://www.seattletimes.comCopyright 2011 The Associated Press.

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