Wash. Signs Domestic
Partner Bill
RACHEL LA CORTE, AP
from TIME.com on the Web, April 22, 2007
Olympia, Wash. Apr.21 --
Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire signed into law Saturday a measure to create
domestic partnerships, giving gay and lesbian couples some of the same rights
that come with marriage.
The law creates a domestic partnership registry and provides enhanced rights for
same-sex couples, including hospital visitation rights, the ability to authorize
autopsies and organ donations and inheritance rights when there is no will.
"It offers the hope that one day, all lesbian and gay families will be treated
truly equal under the law," said state Sen. Ed Murray, who is one of five openly
gay lawmakers in the Legislature.
To be registered, couples have to share a home, not be married or in a domestic
relationship with someone else and be at least 18.
Unmarried, heterosexual senior couples will also be eligible to register if one
partner is at least 62. Lawmakers said that provision, similar to one in
California law, was included to help seniors who are at risk of losing pension
rights and Social Security benefits if they remarry.
Gregoire received a standing ovation from about 200 people in the ornate
reception room at the state Capitol.
"This is a very proud moment for me as governor, to make sure the rights of all
of our citizens are equal," Gregoire said.
People in the crowd cried as Gregoire relayed stories of couples who testified
before lawmakers this year about how they have been denied hospital access to
dying partners, or were not allowed to plan their funerals.
"It is time we put an end to these stories," she said. "This simply allows
our seniors and our same sex partners to rely on each other and to care for each
other when they are faced with life and death situations. These are the
rights of all Washingtonians."
The new law will take effect in July. It comes nearly a year after the
state Supreme Court upheld Washington's ban on same-sex marriage in a 5-4
decision, ruling that state lawmakers were justified in passing the 1998 Defense
of Marriage Act, which restricts marriage to unions between a man and woman.
Couples can register in person with the secretary of state's office in Olympia,
or by mail.
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