Gov. Chris Gregoire today reiterated her support for allowing gays and lesbians to marry and urged legislators to pass her proposed legislation to legalize same-sex marriage in Washington. Today Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley, member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued this statement in response to the governor’s proposal:

“I do not support changing the traditional definition of marriage. I will oppose any bill that attempts to redefine marriage as anything other than its historic definition as a union of one man and one woman.

“Marriage has always been understood as a comprehensive relationship between a man and woman, as husband and wife, grounded in their complementary nature and their ability to naturally conceive and give birth to children, as father and mother.

“The state has always recognized the special nature of that relationship and its benefits for society as a whole.”