State Supreme Court Ruling on Marriage Equality

SEATTLE, July 25 /PRNewswire/ —

   WHAT:   Media briefing regarding decision by the Washington State Supreme           Court on marriage case involving same-sex couples    WHEN:   Wednesday, July 26, 2006           11:00 a.m. PDT    WHERE:  King County Public Administration Building           501 Fifth Avenue (at James)           Seattle, WA 98104           Main Steps / Plaza    INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES ON SITE:    — Plaintiff couples from the case will be available for interviews and      photos immediately following the press conference.   — Attorneys from each of the litigating groups will make remarks on the      decision and will be available for interviews   

“As parents, Betty and I hope the court will do the right thing so that we can marry and ensure that our children receive the same protections and benefits as anyone else’s children. From the beginning, that’s been our main concern — protecting our family,” said Janet Helson, plaintiff and partner of Betty Lundquist. Both Ms. Helson and Ms. Lundquist are represented by the Northwest Women’s Law Center and Lambda Legal in the Andersen lawsuit.

“I’m hopeful the court will recognize the importance of equal rights for all loving, committed spouses. My partner of 21 years has a rare form of cancer and sometimes has gone to the hospital. I need the legal protections of marriage to speak and act on behalf of my partner when he needs me most,” said Curtis Crawford, a plaintiff represented by the ACLU of Washington.

For more information about the case or to schedule interviews to take place prior to the day of the hearing, please contact Chrissy Faessen at 703-582-2777 (cell), Mark Roy 212-809-8585 ext. 267, Doug Honig at 206-624-2184 ext.241.

Northwest Women’s Law Center

CONTACT: Chrissy Faessen of DDB, cell, +1-703-582-2777, +1-202-220-3769,or Chrissy.faessen@ddbissues.com, for Northwest Women’s Law Center; or MarkRoy of Lambda Legal, +1-212-809-8585, ext. 267, or cell, +1-347-512-3358, ormroy@lambdalegal.org; or Doug Honig of American Civil Liberties Union,+1-206-624-2184, ext. 241, or honig@aclu-wa.org

Web site: http://www.nwwlc.org/