WA Legislature expands gay partnerships!

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Registered: 03-23-2003
WA Legislature expands gay partnerships!
Thu, 04-16-2009 - 4:39pm
Washington Legislature expands gay partnerships

Same-sex domestic partners would have all the rights and benefits that Washington state offers married couples under a bill that passed the state Legislature Wednesday.


By RACHEL LA CORTE


Associated Press Writer


OLYMPIA, Wash. —


Same-sex domestic partners would have all the rights and benefits that Washington state offers married couples under a bill that passed the state Legislature Wednesday.


After nearly two hours of debate, the House approved the Senate-passed measure on a mostly party-line 62-35 vote. It now goes to Gov. Chris Gregoire, who said she will sign it into law.


"Our state is one that thrives on diversity," Gregoire said in a statement. "We have to respect and protect all of the families that make up our communities."


The bill expands on previous domestic partnership laws by adding such partnerships to all remaining areas of state law where currently only married couples are mentioned. The statutes range from labor and employment rights to pensions and other public employee benefits.


"This bill completes our work on domestic partnerships by making sure that we state clearly our intention to treat domestic partners in our state equally," said Rep. Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, the bill's sponsor and one of six gay lawmakers in the Legislature.


Pedersen said it was important to give gay and lesbian families "greater certainty that they'll be entitled to the same respect and the same protection that we bestow on all families."


As of Wednesday, more than 5,000 domestic partnership registrations had been filed since July 2007.



Remainder of article at: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009062236_apwaxgrdomesticpartnerships1stldwritethru.html


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