Lawmakers facing backlash over gay marriage vote
OLYMPIA, Wash. — Wednesday’s historic Senate vote to approve same sex marriage has energized supporters, but it has also caused a backlash for some of the lawmakers who voted in favor of the bill.
Officials from the state information office said just prior to Wednesday’s vote, 2,300 calls flooded into the state capitol, with most of the calls opposing gay marriage.
“There have been some fairly profane and angry kinds of communications to members,” said Sen. Lisa Brown, a Democrat who was one of the 28 members who voted in favor of the bill.
The state patrol said there haven’t been any death threats since the vote, but a lot of people are fired up.
“I’ve gotten some pretty negative phone calls,” said Sen. Kevin Ranker.
Ranker, whose father is gay, gave an impassioned speech on Wednesday in favor of same sex marriage.
“As with any issue that is this passionate, people’s response when it doesn’t go the way they want, is also passionate,” Ranker said.
