State Supreme Court to rule on gay marriage

The long-awaited ruling from the State Supreme Court on whether gays and lesbians may marry in this state is to be announced Wednesday. A notice of the upcoming decision was posted today on the court's Web site.

In the case, Andersen vs. King County, first argued before the high court 16 months ago, 19 gay and lesbian couples challenged the constitutionality of Washington's Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which limits marriage to one man and one woman.

Experts see three possible outcomes: One would uphold DOMA, another would strike it down and a third would send the matter to the Legislature.

If the court strikes down the law, Washington would become the second state in the country, after Massachusetts, to offer same-sex marriages and the first to extend the benefit to those who live outside the state.

The State Supreme Court Web site: http://www.courts.wa.gov/opinions/?fa=opinions.notice