Gov To Sign WA Marriage Bill On Monday

Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire will sign her state's marriage equality bill on Monday morning, thereby setting the clock ticking on the rush to collect referendum signatures to block gay marriage at the ballot box.

A statehouse signing ceremony in Olympia, Washington's capital, was slated for 11:30 a.m. local time on Monday. The bill won final legislative approval from the state House of Representatives on Wednesday by a vote of 55-43. The measure will not take effect before early June. Opponents have vowed to seek its repeal at the polls in November, but they cannot begin collecting signatures for a petition to overturn the measure by referendum until it is signed into law.