Plans in works for gay unions ('civil,' not 'labor' - Wa. state)

[kweerwolf]

In anticipation of a Washington State Supreme Court ruling favoring same-sex marriage, a gay-rights organization is preparing now to help gay and lesbian couples with plans for immediate weddings.

The high court's decision could come this fall in a lawsuit by 19 gay and lesbian couples across the state who are seeking the right to marry here, or to have their marriages from elsewhere recognized in this state.

Equal Rights Washington believes that if the ruling allows gays to marry, couples may be able to apply for marriage licenses on the day the ruling is issued — typically that would happen on a Thursday — and that weddings then could take place following a three-day waiting period.

"We are talking about the best case scenario — and saying, 'Let's have a wedding on Sunday,' " said Fran Dunaway, executive director of Equal Rights Washington.

Dunaway said while there's no way to know how or when the court will rule, the group wants to be prepared to answer questions couples might have about the ramification of the ruling. Equal Rights would prepare a sort of check-list for couples who are prepared to wed in three days.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002511845_bigwedding22m.html?syndication=rss&source=seattletimes.xml&items=120