Pete-e Peterson and Jane Lighty lead the celebration (Images: CHS)

There is a battle coming. But, with Valentine’s Day to follow, Monday night was about love, commitment and joy at a community gathering in downtown Seattle following the governor’s signature of the Washington marriage equality bill.

“This is about celebration,” Seattle City Council president and, as she was introduced, “proud lesbian” Sally Clark said in her time at the microphone in front of hundreds inside the Plymouth Congregational Church at 6th and University.

“After Valentines Day there’s a lot of work to do.”

King County Council member Joe McDermott (Images: CHS)

Performances by the Seattle Men’s and Women’s chorus were interspersed by speeches from politicians and representatives from organizations on the front lines of the gay marriage effort. “Today we can proudly say that equality is the law of the land in Washington state,” Governor Chris Gregoire wrote in a toast read at the celebration.

Some of the biggest cheers of the night came for Jane Lighty and Pete-e Peterson who told the crowd about their trip to witness the bill’s signing in Olympia earlier in the day. Lighty and Peterson have been a couple for 35 years and we’re clearly in a celebratory mood Monday night. Peterson said she’s raring to go.

“Whatever fight comes up we’re going to win,” she said.