Seattle P-I: Five who made news in the Puget Sound Region in 2004
December 31, 2004
KEN HUTCHERSON
At the beginning of 2004, he was known primarily for shepherding Antioch Bible Church, a multiethnic congregation in Redmond. By year's end, he was on a first-name basis with leaders of many national Christian organizations.
The man known as "Hutch" raised his profile when he organized the Mayday for Marriage rally at Safeco Field on May 1, which drew about 20,000 supporters of a union between a man and a woman. Traditional marriage was "under attack," he said, with judges in King and Thurston counties striking down prohibitions on same-sex marriages.
With support from national Christian ministries, Hutcherson planned a second rally on a far grander scale, an Oct. 15 event that by some estimates drew more than 100,000 to the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Eighteen days later, voters in 11 states approved anti-gay marriage amendments, a sweep that he said proved "America is still a moral country."
Hutcherson, 52, plans another local Mayday for Marriage, with hopes that Washington and the nation take steps to prohibit gay marriage.
"I'm looking forward to this being the year we get a constitutional change started for traditional marriage," Hutcherson said.
At the beginning of 2004, he was known primarily for shepherding Antioch Bible Church, a multiethnic congregation in Redmond. By year's end, he was on a first-name basis with leaders of many national Christian organizations.
The man known as "Hutch" raised his profile when he organized the Mayday for Marriage rally at Safeco Field on May 1, which drew about 20,000 supporters of a union between a man and a woman. Traditional marriage was "under attack," he said, with judges in King and Thurston counties striking down prohibitions on same-sex marriages.
With support from national Christian ministries, Hutcherson planned a second rally on a far grander scale, an Oct. 15 event that by some estimates drew more than 100,000 to the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Eighteen days later, voters in 11 states approved anti-gay marriage amendments, a sweep that he said proved "America is still a moral country."
Hutcherson, 52, plans another local Mayday for Marriage, with hopes that Washington and the nation take steps to prohibit gay marriage.
"I'm looking forward to this being the year we get a constitutional change started for traditional marriage," Hutcherson said.
Seattle P-I: State justices set to hear appeal on gay marriage
December 10, 2004
In Washington state, the Supreme Court will hear the appeal March 8 of two cases in which lower-court judges struck down the state law banning gay marriage. Those rulings have not taken effect, pending the outcome of the appeal.
In August, a King County judge ruled against the 1998 Defense of Marriage Act. A Thurston County judge followed suit the next month.
The issue also is expected to surface in the 2005 Legislature, possibly as a proposed constitutional amendment limiting marriages to male-female couples.
In August, a King County judge ruled against the 1998 Defense of Marriage Act. A Thurston County judge followed suit the next month.
The issue also is expected to surface in the 2005 Legislature, possibly as a proposed constitutional amendment limiting marriages to male-female couples.
