Seattle Mayor Criticized for Support of Homosexual Marriage

The Pacific Justice Institute is continuing to challenge Seattle, Washington, Mayor Greg Nickels for issuing an executive order recognizing same-sex marriages from other jurisdictions for the purpose of providing employee benefits it was announced today. The legal organization is also criticizing him for supporting the legalization of same-sex marriages in Washington and for taking both actions despite the state lawmakers passing a Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which limits marriage to one man and one woman. A lawsuit against the mayor for defying DOMA is continuing.

Mayor Nickels signed the executive order on March 8, 2004. In a press release at the time, he noted that if he and his wife were to buy a house or visit a family member in the hospital, "absolutely nobody challenges us about the legitimacy of our marital status." He said for gay and lesbian couples to be offered the same rights was "a matter of fairness."

Mayor Nickels also on July 26, 2004, in a press release criticized the Washington State Supreme Court for upholding DOMA. He said the court failed in its chance to "tear down another wall of iniquity and prejudice that has longed strained our society" to allow for homosexual marriage.

The Pacific Justice Institute (PJI) sought legal action against the mayor, according to a press release, to "stop defying the state DOMA law." The lawsuit was delayed while the Washington State Supreme Court considered the constitutionality of the law, but now that the court has declared the law constitutional, the case against the mayor is proceeding.

Kevin Snider, chief counsel for the Sacramento-based PJI, criticized the mayor for his support of homosexual marriage. He said Mayor Nickels' motives are clear. He said the real purpose of his executive order was not only to allow for government benefits for same-sex couples in Seattle, but was to change state marriage laws.

Snider said in a press release that the mayor's comments when signing the executive order seemed to "be an inappropriate statement if you're merely talking about employee benefits." Snider said the mayor's actions could have a ripple effect on other civic leaders around the country, and that is why a stand must be taken.

Snider said if the mayor's actions in support of homosexual marriage and against the state DOMA law continue, "this would give other local agencies the gumption to try to overturn their own state marriage laws by going around it through these employee benefits."

According to the official position of the PJI, the mayor's actions are another example of the lengths that "radical advocates of same sex marriage are willing to go to advance their agenda." Snider recalled that a Michigan court rejected similar actions by homosexual marriage supporters.