Here's a look at the 11 couples represented by the American Civil Liberties Union in their lawsuit against the state of Washington. They want either to be married or to have their marriages recognized by the state:

Brenda Bauer and Celia Castle: Seattle residents, Bauer is an attorney and director of contracting services for the city of Seattle. Castle is a firefighter. They have two daughters, ages 8 and 11. They were married in Portland in March.

Pamela Coffey and Valerie Tibbett: A couple for 31 years, they live in Friday Harbor. Coffey is a photographer and Tibbett a retired administrative-law judge.

Gary Murrell and Michael Gyde: Murrell is a writer and history professor at Grays Harbor College and Gyde is an antiques dealer. They live in Hoquiam have been together 25 years.

Judy Fleissner and Chris Gamache: Fleissner is a police officer and Gamache is an attorney. A couple for 14 years, they are the parents of a 7-year-old boy and a 4-year-old girl and live in Seattle. They were married in Portland in March.

Kevin Chestnut and Curtis Crawford: Seattle residents, Chestnut is an executive for a software company and Crawford is a photographer. They've been together 19 years and were married in British Columbia last October.

Jeff Kingsbury and Alan Fuller: Kingsbury is artistic director for the Capital Playhouse in Olympia. Fuller is a mortgage lender for the Washington State Employees Credit Union. They've been a couple 12 years.

Lauri Conner and Leja Wright: Conner is an English teacher at Seattle Academy for Arts and Sciences. Wright is a medical assistant at the Country Doctor Clinic. They've been a couple 3-½ years.

Allan Henderson and John Berquist: Seattle residents, Henderson is an international consultant, Berquist is a nurse. They've been together 23 years.

Marge Ballack and Diane Lantz: Spokane residents, Ballack is a kitchen designer and Lantz works at a publishing company. They've been a couple 25 years and were married in British Columbia last year.

Tom Duke and Phuoc Lam: Together six years, they live in Port Townsend. Duke is a clinical psychologist. Lam owns a hiking-and-outdoor-equipment store.

Karrie and Kathy Cunningham: Residents of Graham, Pierce County, Karrie Cunningham is a consultant and Kathy Cunningham is unemployed. A couple for 11 years, they were married in February in San Francisco.