Domestic Partnership Expansion Bill passes; Governor expected to sign

[FreeState]

Source: Kirkland Reporter Staff Writer

The bill, which adds hundreds of rights and responsibilities to current law, passed the house on a 62-35 vote. The vote follows a 30-18 in the state Senate several weeks ago. Local representatives Deb Eddy, Ross Hunter, Larry Springer and Roger Goodman all supported the measure. The bill now heads to Governor Christine Gregoire's desk for a signature.

snip

Some of the changes to current law include increased rights for domestic partners to claim survivorship rights in pensions and tax benefits enjoyed by married couples. Those opposed said it would infringe religious freedom, cause social upheaval and - by implication - that children are more likely to become "delinquents" in homes not supported by both a man and a woman.

“We applaud the Washington state legislature for providing these important protections under Washington state law to committed lesbian and gay couples and we thank Senators Ed Murray and Joe McDermott and Representatives Jamie Pedersen, Dave Upthegrove, Jim Moeller and Marko Liias, as well as Equal Rights Washington for their leadership on this civil rights issue,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “This is another important step toward full equality, and it will provide tangible, much needed legal protections for families in Washington.”

The bill now heads to the desk of Governor Christine Gregoire for signing. In 2007, Governor Gregoire signed the first Domestic Partner bill into law, creating a domestic partner registry and providing some rights to lesbian and gay couples and their families. In 2008, the Governor signed legislation providing domestic partners with 160 of the more than 400 rights and responsibilities afforded to married couples. This year’s Domestic Partnership Expansion bill grants approximately 250 additional rights and responsibilities to registered domestic partners.

Read more: http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/east_king/kir/news/43072067.html

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Yeah - now to go for full marriage equality!

[iandhr]

1. I learned many lesson from the marriage equality right

The most important of which is progress is slow

[TechBear_Seattle]

2. We can now sit at the lunch counter, although we are forbidden by law from ordering

But sitting there is nice. :eyes:

[AlbertCat]

3. Social Upheaval!

Those opposed said it would infringe religious freedom, cause social upheaval and - by implication - that children are more likely to become "delinquents" in homes not supported by both a man and a woman.

**************

Great, society needs a lift.

Oh and of course NO delinquents ever come from homes with a man and a woman. That's a guarantee!

This is such a stupid opposition. It's been clearly shown not to be true.