Washington has become the seventh state of America to legalise marriage equality, as Governor Chris Gregoire (pictured) has signed the same-sex marriage bill into law.

The law will go into effect on June 7, and has been welcomed by local LGBTI campaigners who see it as another important step towards equality for the state’s gay citizens.

“I’m proud our same-sex couples will no longer be treated as separate but equal,” Gregoire said at the signing ceremony.

Marriage equality opponents are still trying to gather enough signatures to force a referendum on the issue.

Watch footage from the state’s marriage equality debate below as Republican legislator Maureen Walsh shows her support.

“My daughter came out of the closet a couple of years ago. Nothing’s different. She’s still a fabulous human being. And she’s met a person that she loves very much. And some day, my God, I want to throw a wedding for that kid.”

Marriage equality is already legal in New York, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Washington, D.C, but other states, including North Carolina and Minnesota are seeking to formally ban gay marriage.