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Loading ...Wa. gov. signs partner bill
05.18.2009 3:20pm EDT
(Seattle, Washington) Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire on Monday signed legislation granting domestic partners almost all of the state rights of married spouses.
“They will make for stronger families, and when we have stronger families, we have a stronger Washington state,” Gregoire said as she put her pen to the document.The legislation makes domestic partnerships equal to marriage in areas of community property, guardianship and powers of attorney. It allows partners the right to refuse to testify against partners in court. And it provides the same remedies as married couples to end a relationship, including the division of property.
The legislation expands on previous domestic partnership laws by adding reference to partnerships alongside all remaining areas of state law where currently only married couples are mentioned.
The domestic partner law was enacted after the state Supreme Court in 2006 upheld Washington’s so-called Defense of Marriage Act that limits marriage to opposite-sex couples.
The court cited the argument that marriage was designed for the procreation of children. But the court noted the legislature could overturn the law or amend it to include gay pairs.
Since July 2007 when the original domestic partner law went into effect, more than 5,000 couples have registered as domestic partners.
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.
But opponents of the law already have started a bid to overturn the measure.
The Washington Values Alliance filed paperwork earlier this month to begin the referendum process. They need to get more than 120,500 voter signatures by July 25 to qualify for the November ballot.
what’s almost the states rights?????
Gov. Chris Gregoire is an excellent lady, NOW WE FINALLY HAVE DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIPS ALL ON THE WEST COAST NOW!!!!!! – Maybe Nevada might be next hey??? (I doubt it because of a typical Republican Gov cunt is planning to veto the bill)
That “almost all” could be a blessing in disguise. It might be easier to pass marriage equality if opponents can’t argue that we already have all the rights of marriage.
If it’s really “all”, we’ll need studies showing that the domestic partnerships don’t really work: that same-sex partners are still being treated unequally despite having equal rights in theory.
A big step forward. Give it a few years, and the laws will be changed to replace the word “marriage” with “civil marriage”, for gay and str8 alike.
To clarify that civil marriage has nothing to do with religious marriage.
And I seem to remember that the bigots of the relgious right who tried to do this before re the limited civil unions bill failed badly re a referendum.
But lets not be unprepared, everyone of these battles is important. To win, and to further expose the fanatacism of the religious right churches, who forget the old Golden Rule. The central core of what religion should be about.
Keep an eye out for the petitioners in Washington and make sure they are not lying to anyone about what the petition is really about. And if you can undermine the petitioners at every turn.
The way I understand the law is it is “Everything, but the TITLE, marriage”.
**Chris Gregoire has approved a measure that gives same-sex domestic partners ALL the rights and benefits that Washington state offers married couples besides the title marriage.**
Although it’s not FULL equality, this is a HUGE step toward it. Atleast gay couples can now have the same benefits and rights that regular couple have. Marriage is next…
Per reports I have read is is an OREGONIAN who is trying to get backing for Referendumb 71. This is how he makes his living.
Here is the fb group to oppose the Referendum.
facebook.com/group.php?gid=74684577769
>>But opponents of the law already have started a bid to overturn the measure.<<
So their opposition really has nothing to do with the “sanctity of marriage”. They flat out don’t want ANY recognition of domestic partnerships legal or otherwise. Finally the ugly truth admits itself.
While I appreciate the effort on the part of the governor, this is still not full equality and the aforementioned statement only proves we have to continue fighting. I also agree that the Washington State Supreme Court ruling is ludicrous. Please tell me where there is some precedent or legal ruling stating that marriage was designed for two people of the opposite sex to procreate? If so, Jonathan is on the mark!
Any governor,rep.,or president that signs such a law should by law be required to live their life by the law they have signed…perhaps then we will get full equality. Until then I think that I still view this as soft bigotry. Even if it is a step in the right direction. Get a civil union Christine,and Barack and then live with the result that you so willingly assign to our life.
I think we can all appreciate the fact that even this small step toward complete marriage equality would never have happened under Dino Rossi. Thank you, Gov. Gregoire.
A proposition needs to be put on the ballot of every state that will state that ALL church property will be taxed at the state level at the same rate as all commerical property. Today religion is Big Business and should be treated as such! It could be called the Bigot Proposition.
Again – we need to stop infertile opposite sex couples from marrying, along with women past menopause and any couple who CHOOSES not to have children.
The ruling from the state supreme court is ridiculous.
Excellent! Separate but equal arguments aside (and valid they are), this represents another great stride towards full equality. And to think back at her first term of governor and how it was a tossup between her and the republican she was up against, today proves the right person won!
What is the ‘rest’ of the ‘most of’ that isn’t apparently mentioned?
Is there a requirement in Washington that opposite sex couples getting married live together? Just another thing that’s unfair about domestic partnership laws.