On April 5, 2011, Washington Governor Chris Gregoire signed a bill recognizing out-of-state same-sex marriages as legal domestic partnerships. The legislation, House Bill 1649, amended then-current state law, which acknowledged out-of-state domestic partnerships and civil unions but not same-sex marriage. The bill became effective 90 days after the close of the legislative session. Washington subsequently legalized same-sex marriage statewide in February 2012. The legal recognition of out-of-state same-sex marriages varies widely according to locale, with jurisdictions including Wyoming foreclosing such recognition. However, several jurisdictions either recognize out-of-state same-sex marriages or have indicated a posture towards recognition, including Maryland and New Mexico.



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