Walsh spoke to the Whitman community on the evening of Wednesday, March 28.Her lecture addressed the state of politics in Olympia, as well as her personal support for same-sex marriage. As a member of the Republican caucus, Walsh was one of the few in her party to vote for marriage equality in Washington State, a move which drew criticism from some of her constituents. Walsh said that in 2009, voters in her district voted 71 percent in favor of repealing domestic partnership benefits for same-sex couples.

If and when the decision on prop 8 comes before the supreme court, the decision of one justice will mean everything for the gay marriage fight.

The Washington State House of Representatives voted 55 to 43 on Wednesday, February 7 to allow same sex marriages. This, following the senate voting in favor of same sex marriage last week and Gov. Gregoire's pledge to sign the bill, makes Washington poised to be the seventh U.S. state, in addition to Washington, D.C., to allow same sex marriages. Washington could begin offering same sex marriages 90 days after the governor signs the bill into law. Whitman College students react to the news.