Washington's Weddings Were 17 Percent Gay Last Year

More than 7,000 same-sex couples have tied the knot in the Evergreen state since marriage equality took effect last December.

Sunnivie Brydum

Sunnivie is the managing editor of The Advocate, and an award-winning journalist whose passion is covering the politics of equality and elevating the unheard stories of our community. Originally from Colorado, she and her spouse now live in Los Angeles, along with their three fur-children: dogs Luna and Cassie Doodle, and "Meow Button" Tilly.

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Sunnivie Brydum

December 07 2013 8:00 AM EST

November 17 2015 5:28 AM EST

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Nearly a quarter of the weddings that took place in Washington state in the past year were between same-sex couples, reports the Associated Press.

On Wednesday, Washington officials reported that more than 7,000 same-sex couples wed in the state since its marriage equality law took effect December 9, 2012, after voters affirmed a marriage equality bill signed by the governor that February.

That means 17 percent of the weddings that took place in the past year were between same-sex couples, the AP notes. Among those newlywed same-sex couples, 62 percent were comprised of two women.

Washington is the first state in the Pacific Northwest to embrace marriage equality, and it's driving tourism from neighboring states. Roughly a quarter of the same-sex couples who married in Washington over the past year traveled from out of state, with the largest percentage hailing from Oregon, according to the AP.