(Olympia, Washington) Opponents of a bill that would expand Washington’s 2007 domestic partner law to provide all of the state rights and benefits of marriage vastly outnumbered supporters as a state House committee began hearings on the measure.

“It’s our belief that this bill is actually a Trojan horse that appears to be built on equality and fairness, but it’s actually destructive of society’s greater welfare,” said Maureen Richardson of the conservative Concerned Women for America told the House Judiciary Committee. “This bill is a continuation of the erosion of the special and unique status granted to married couples.”

As one opponent after another stood to speak against the bill there were loud “amens” and applause. At one point, Rep. Jamie Pedersen (D) called for order. The openly gay lawmaker is the sponsor of the bill.

“There are strong feelings on this bill, but we are not going to tolerate disrespect. I understand that there has been some name-calling and pushing out in the halls. We are not going to tolerate that in here and neither will security,” he told the gallery.

He was loudly booed.

Among those supporting the bill were David Cremeens, his partner, Michael Riter, and their daughter Heaven.

“All we want is to have the same financial protections other loving couples have who happen to be married,” Cremeens told the committee. “It’s important that the state, with this legislation, is setting an example that there should be simple fairness in the way we treat families.”

A public hearing on a companion bill in the Senate received a more subdued reception. The legislation is expected to pass out of the committees next week and head to votes on the floors of the two houses. 

Gov. Chris Gregoire (D) has said she would sign the measure if it is passed. Gregoire also signed the earlier partner bill into law. It provided inheritance rights when there is no will, hospital visitation rights and the ability to authorize autopsies and organ donations. Under the law, partners must be 18 or order and not already married or in a domestic relationship with someone else.  The law also requires that couples share a home and be financially dependent up one another.

It also allows opposite-sex couples to register if one partner is at least 62 years old. 

Nearly 5,000 domestic partnership registrations have been filed since the law took effect in July 2007.