Davis signs law giving domestic partners most marriage rights

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2003/09/19/state2131EDT0165.DTL

Sealing his reputation as one of the nation's most gay-friendly governors, Gray Davis signed a domestic partner bill Friday night granting same-sex couples in California nearly all the same rights and responsibilities as married spouses.

"I am strongly committed to extending human rights and equal rights to everyone. A family is a family not because of gender but because of values, like commitment, trust and love," Davis said before he put pen to paper amid cheers and applause from the standing-room only crowd at San Francisco's Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender center.

California already had strong domestic-partner laws, but the bill Davis signed closes the legal gap, to the extent possible under federal law, that separates homosexual and heterosexual couples.

With gays and lesbians among the most reliable Democratic voters, Davis has worked hard to solidify his image as a champion of gay rights, especially since the recall campaign began. And he appears not to fear much of a backlash -- a recent Field Poll found 72 percent of California voters surveyed supported expanded rights for same-sex couples.

[LeftCoast]

1. WOO-HOO! :)

:party::toast::party::toast::party::toast::party::toast::party::toast::party::toast::party::toast::party::toast::party::toast::party::toast::party::toast::party::toast::party::toast::party::toast::party::toast::party::toast:

[Langis]

2. Good for him

And California

[Terran]

3. great news!

As California goes, so goes the nation.

[tsipple]

4. California Now Joins Vermont...

Two states down, forty-eight to go!

Congratulations, Californians. Your state is a more welcoming place.

[LightTheMatch]

5. Kickass!

That's fabulous news -- good for him! -- :party:

[LastDemInIdaho]

6. Did he include all domestic partners?

He said: "A family is a family not because of gender but because of values, like commitment, trust and love"

My two Aunts live together in Bakersfield and they tell me they are not able to reap these benefits. They have lived together for 28 years.

Is there a good reason they can't get the same treatment?