Washington State House Set To Vote On Same Sex Marriage Bill Wednesday That Has Been Amended To Exempt Religious School Chapels, Colorado Civil Union Proponents Cheer Proposition 8 Ruling, Washington D.C. Council Approves Bill Allowing Same Sex Couples To Divorce Without Having To Live In Area, Jonathan Groff And Zachary Quinto Do Brunch, Chris Evans

Religiously affiliated schools like Gonzaga University and Seattle University would not have to accommodate same-sex weddings in Washington state — and could not be sued for refusing to do so — under legislation the House is set to vote on Wednesday. The Seattle Times reports that the amendment to the same sex- marriage bill was one of several religious groups were able to push through during debate in the Senate a week ago. Seattle University's president, the Rev. Stephen Sundborg, said the amendment protects "us from having to make our chapels available for same sex marriages. "To require us to utilize them for this purpose would violate our identity and commitment as a Catholic university." The legislation, SB 6239, which the Senate passed 28-21, has more than enough votes to pass the House during a floor vote scheduled for 1:00 pm Wednesday. The bill is unlikely to be amended further because that would require another vote in the Senate, which supporters have said they don't want. Governor Chris Gregoire is expected to sign it early next week — bringing Washington in line with six other states and the District of Columbia where same-sex marriage is already legal. As originally written, the measure exempted religious leaders from having to perform marriages for gay couples, and prevented state and local government agencies from penalizing religious organizations that refuse any part in same-sex weddings. Still, many religious leaders raised concerns that the exemptions didn't go far enough. In addition to being able to refuse to perform same-sex marriages, they wanted the right to refuse to "recognize" them, so they wouldn't have to provide marriage counselling to gay couples, for example. The amendment was adopted. They wanted — and were granted — the exemptions for religious schools. And in the bill's introductory section, they wanted removal of a reference to the state's current marital laws as "discriminatory." Bill sponsors struck the entire introductory section. Among several amendments bill sponsors rejected was a proposal to exempt judges and court administrators with a religious objection to same sex marriages. Another would have exempted florists or photographers with similar views. Such private businesses, supporters point out, are already subject to the state's non-discrimination law, which the Legislature passed five years ago. Bill sponsors did allow an amendment declaring that the measure does not affect how children can be placed for foster care or adoption by religious organizations. But they rejected an amendment that would more explicitly allow religious organizations to refuse to place children with same sex couples.

The backers of legislation that would recognize same sex civil unions in Colorado cheered a ruling made by a federal appeals court on Tuesday declaring California's voter-approved ban on same sex marriage unconstitutional. The decision, which makes same sex marriage legal for the time being in California while setting up a likely showdown at the Supreme Court, only adds to the momentum behind this year's push for civil unions at the Colorado Capitol, where lawmakers are set to consider the proposal this month. "Today's affirmative ruling by the 9th Circuit that Proposition 8 violates the U.S. Constitution is a victory for all loving and committed same-sex couples in California and across the nation," said Brad Clark, the executive director of One Colorado, an LGBT advocacy group based in Denver. "We applaud the 9th Circuit for standing on the right side of history and affirming that fundamental freedoms such as the freedom to marry should never be taken away by a popular vote." Last year, reports KDVR-TV, Republicans on a House committee voted on party lines to kill the civil unions legislation, after it passed the Democrat-controlled state Senate. Since then, a group of Republicans have formed to highlight their support for civil unions, mostly based on a limited-government argument; and polls have shown more than 70 percent of Coloradans support civil unions. Tuesday's 2-1 ruling by a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declared that California's Proposition 8, which voters approved in 2008, was a violation of the civil rights of gays and lesbians. "Today's ruling, if upheld, will restore the freedom to marry in California and add our nation's largest state as another engine of progress for the country," said Clark. "As this case makes its way through the courts, we will continue to pursue critical legal protections for all families here in Colorado. Civil unions will ensure that committed couples are able to take care of the people they love — until all families are fully recognized in our state." Colorado's Amendment 2, approved in 1992, effectively bans same sex marriage in the state. This year's legislation, not coincidentally, is Senate Bill 2; and Democrats are hoping to find a Republican lawmaker to sponsor the legislation in the House, once it passes the Senate, which is still in Democrats' control. No House Republicans have signalled a willingness to sign on as a sponsor, but Monday's news that Rep. B.J. Nikkel, R-Loveland, won't seek re-election could offer Democrats an opening. Nikkel, who was drawn into the same district as Representative Brian Delgrosso (R-Loveland), is stepping aside instead of forcing her colleague into a primary. Both Delgrosso and Nikkel were among the seven Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee who voted down the bill last May -- and both were the two members who appeared to be the most conflicted on the issue and heavily lobbied by the bill's sponsors. Now that Nikkel no longer has to worry about re-election -- and the possibility of a primary challenge from another Republican had she voted in favour of civil unions -- some civil unions supporters are hopeful she might feel free to vote yes.

The D.C. Council has approved a bill that would make it easier for gay and lesbian couples who marry in the nation’s capital to get divorced. According to The Associated Press, the bill would let gay couples who married in Washington get divorced even if they no longer live in the district, provided they live somewhere that would not recognize their divorce. Under current law, one member of the divorcing couple has to live in Washington for six months before starting divorce proceedings. The council approved the bill unanimously Tuesday in a preliminary vote. It will get a final vote before being sent to Mayor Vincent Gray for his signature. The district began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples in March 2010. Six states also allow same sex marriage.

Jonathan Groff and Zachary Quinto spotted Sunday in Los Feliz.

Chris Evans spotted Wednesday in Los Angeles.