Gregoire expands same-sex partnerships

[uppityperson]

Source: Seattle Times

Gov. Chris Gregoire has approved a measure that gives same-sex domestic partners all the rights and benefits that Washington state offers married couples.

Gregoire signed the bill Monday in Seattle. It will take effect at the end of July, unless opponents collect enough signatures to put a referendum on the ballot.

The "everything but marriage" law expands on previous domestic partnership laws, adding partnerships to all remaining areas of state law that deal with married couples. The benefits range from labor and employment rights to pensions and other public employee benefits.

More than 5,300 domestic partnership registrations had been filed in Washington since July 2007.

Read more: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2009171604_apwadomesticpartnerships.html

[liberalmuse]

1. Love her and I'm proud to have voted for her.

Yes!

[Sebastian Doyle]

2. "unless opponents collect enough signatures...."

Great..... I'm sure Eyman the flaming douchenozzle is all over that. :eyes:

[quiller4]

4. Eyman isn't working on the petition. Efforts are being

coordinated by a fundamentalist pastor and a decline to sign effort is underway.

[Sebastian Doyle]

5. The Repukes will probably draft him

Paying for signatures is the one thing Timmeh is good at.

[eridani]

16. They probably aren't going to have a lot of luck with that

Gregoire was smart enough to put off signing the bill to minimize the number of days they have to collect signatures.

http://www.washblog.com/story/2009/5/18/143214/741

For the second time this year, Washington's Governor Chris Gregoire has had the honor of advancing civil rights with her mighty pen. Governor Gregoire has been a steadfast ally. Here is what she said when the House passed SB 5688, the Domestic Partnership Expansion Bill of 2009:

"I want to thank the legislators who worked tirelessly to get this bill passed in the House. This legislation will expand basic benefits, provide better financial security and ensure equal treatment for domestic partners living in Washington state. Our state is one that thrives on diversity. We have to respect and protect all families that make up our communities."
Thank you Governor Gregoire, Equal Rights Washington and 92 fair-minded representatives and senators (out of 146) for making this happen! Over 5,300 domestic partnerships had been filed since July, 2007.

The question remains when the bill will take effect. Because Oregonian Gary Randall and & his bumbling Washington operative Larry Stickney are proceeding with their cash cow fools errand of a ReferenDUMB, the law will remain in limbo until they fail to return enough valid signatures by the deadline of July 25t

[defendandprotect]

3. If this is as good as marriage, I predict mixed couples will move in on it --

[movonne]

6. I don't think this does give the same marriage rights...because

they wouldn't get federal rights..am I right or wrong??

[defendandprotect]

8. I think you're correct . . .

that is in reading the post below --

I had no idea that the Feds were ignorning these states rights/marriages!!!

Never thought about it!!

Wow!!

So that exempts Social Security and Medicare and taxes . . . !!!

[No Elephants]

17. Defense of Marriage Act, aka DOMA

[defendandprotect]

19. Why aren't we overturning that . . . ????

WTF . . . rule by religion?

[JerseygirlCT]

10. Right. That's one of the biggest problems

with the argument that CUs are ok, because they're "just like marriage". They're not, on a federal level.

I mean, it's a positive step - but it cannot be the last step.

[Politicalboi]

7. The States do all this

But when it comes time to do federal taxes you still file as single. Isn't that lying? This is almost like the Medical Marijuana. It needs to be recognized by the feds. Granted it's a great foot forward but to get anywhere it needs to be recognized by the feds.

[stevedeshazer]

9. The "everything but marriage" law.

Like it's important to make sure that because couples are the same sex, it's not ever to be called marriage, but the same rights are afforded.

This is just silly.

[JerseygirlCT]

11. I agree, but

we did find in CT that this was a successful stepping stone to full equality.

By the time our SC ruled that separate isn't equal, it was mostly received with a smile or at worst, "ho, hum, ok". (Except of course, for the usual raving bigots like the Knights of Columbus, etc. But they'd never stopped squawking about CUs, either).

It took a few years, but we're now a state with marriage for everyone.

[stevedeshazer]

12. If that's what it takes, so be it

But it's been long enough, for sure.

[JerseygirlCT]

13. I remember being a bit put out when I heard that the

major organization behind marriage equality in CT was throwing their weight behind the CU bill years back. "What are they doing? They're giving up!" I thought.

Nope. Just smarter than I, it turns out. And in a few short years that was shown decisively.

There was a lame attempt recently to vote on a change that would basically start the process rolling toward a system like CA's screwed up one, wherein people's civil rights can be stripped by majority rules nonsense. The no-nonsense people of CT ignored a huge ad campaign by an odious group called The Family Institute or some such, and the aforementioned Knights. We're not turning back, though the bigots will continue to try to find ways to chip away at rights (Religious "conscience" clauses - where they're allowed to dscriminate, etc).

So I'm a bit more patient now when I read about things like in the OP. It's going to happen. It's really just a matter of how long it takes - the result is not in doubt.

But easily said by me, a straight, married woman...

[stevedeshazer]

14. Yeah, true

Straight married people have more reason to be patient (I'm one, too).

[JerseygirlCT]

15. It's funny

This is just one of those issues that I will start preaching about at the drop of a hat. I have just always felt very strongly about it and the huge injustice done to people who have caused no harm.

Maybe because I think gay rights and women's rights are simply other facets of civil rights, and every bit as important.

[nichomachus]

18. Just like separate drinking fountains were an important first step

in letting black folks drink out of the same drinking fountains as white folks. God bless those "separate, but equal" drinking fountains. I'm surprised more people didn't cheer them on.