EDGE New England

It has been more than a year since Washington legalized same-sex unions, with marriages beginning this December, but early data already shows that the legislation has boosted the local economy.

On Dec. 6, Washington State Clerks offices began signing same-sex marriage licenses for the first time after Washington voters chose to legalize same-sex marriage in November’s election.

The LGBT community has fought tirelessly for marriage equality, getting a referendum passed in Washington state to legalize same-sex marriage there. But the impact was felt by others, and our straight allies continue to stand side-by-side with us.

A Washington State middle school teacher’s pin sparked a lesbian mother to launch an online campaign to get the teacher to apologize and to ban teachers from sharing their political views in the classroom.

More than half a dozen Roman Catholic priests within the Archdiocese of Seattle have refused to circulate petitions inside their parishes in support of a proposed ballot measure that would overturn Washington’s marriage equality law.

Gov. Chris Gregoire announced that she would back a bill supporting gay marriage after years of struggling with her views on marriage equality. This puts Washington State in play as the next state, after Iowa, outside of the Northwest.

The extension of transgender-specific health care benefits to city employees, the Space Needle’s 11th hour concession to fly the rainbow flag at Pride and two brutal murders all grabbed local headlines in 2011.

Heather Meyer-Love, president of the University of Washington-Bothell’s Gay Straight Alliance, spearheaded the "Not on Our Campus" campaign in response to anti-gay graffiti that was scrawled onto a campus map last month.

The 18th & U Duplex Diner throws a Grand Opening Party -- but don’t worry, not much has changed at the institution

According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the gay populations in Washington, D.C. and Baltimore have doubled in the last decade, spawning increased political involvement. And there are now more reasons to visit.