Kastama signals support for gay marriage bill (WA State)

[brooklynite]

link:http://heraldnet.com/article/20120119/BLOG13/120119776/-1/NEWS01|The Daily Herald]:

Twenty-four down, one to go.

State Sen. Jim Kastama, a conservative Democrat from Puyallup, announced today he will support a bill allowing same-sex couples to marry, leaving supporters one vote shy of a majority in the state Senate.

But it wasn't easy for him.

In a statement, he said:

“This decision is a deeply personal one. Unlike some of my colleagues in liberal districts, I will not return home to cheers and handshakes. I represent the district I was raised in. My wife and I purchased and live in the same house I grew up in and we have raised our family there. My district has known me my whole life and for 16 years has entrusted me to be a fiercely independent legislator. The people of my district are generous and decent, but I also know that there are childhood friends who will never forgive me for this vote."

An the tipping point...

[MNBrewer]

1. "there are childhood friends who will never forgive me for this vote"

Those friends, sir, are vile bigots.

[Starry Messenger]

2. ^This^

[uppityperson]

3. K&R for standing up to "generous and decent" bigots.

[Jamesm9164]

4. Mr. Kastama is running for statewide office (sec of state)

and is pandering to the Seattle area. Should the polls change so shall he.

[MNBrewer]

5. He doesn't have to worry so much about his "childhood friends" then