Domestic partnerships likely a done deal in (Washington) state

[TechBear_Seattle]

Domestic partnerships likely a done deal in state

OLYMPIA — A domestic-partnership bill for gay and lesbian couples appears headed for state law, but supporters say their ultimate goal — same-sex marriage — is likely years away.

The state Senate on Thursday passed the measure by a 28-19 vote after a heated debate that boiled over when a Republican senator made references to bestiality and necrophilia.

The bill is expected to easily pass the House, though it's not clear when it will come up for a vote. Gov. Christine Gregoire has said she supports the measure.

The legislation would give gay and lesbian couples the right to visit a partner in the hospital, inherit the partner's property without a will and make funeral arrangements, among other things. That right also would be extended to unmarried heterosexuals in which at least one partner is 62 or older.

The full article can be read from the Seattle Times at http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003596736_domestic02m0.html

This bill will give same-sex couples 12 of the more than 800 rights granted by state law through marriage. I am not only unimpressed, I am deeply insulted.

Added: Forgot the link.

[patricia92243]

1. How many states does that make that now allow civil unions, etc?

[Liberal Veteran]

2. I hear ya, but...

....it's a start.

Quite honestly, once it's the law and some of the initial outrage from the bigot fringe settles down, they can quietly increase the scope of it without all the hurdles it took to get this passed.

The bottom line is there is just too big a portion of the populace that really would rather we just disappear forever and they get their panties in a wad everytime we take a step closer to equality. You know that if the legislature passed gay marriage and Gregoire signed it, Tim Eyman and his crew would be out the next day with petitions to invalidate the law (and they probably will try on this one as well) and there are enough idiots in our state that really believe that if we are allowed to marry, they will invoke the wrath of God and the entire Cascade range will explode and kill us all or some shit like that. Between them and the real haters in there, they'd probably win if it became a ballot initiative to repeal it.

I know it sounds pessimistic, but our state makes it so easy to put our civil rights to the popular vote that it's an uphill battle for equality.