Legislation was filed Tuesday to extend rights granted to domestic partners in the state of Washington to same-sex couples.
Sen. Ed Murray (D-Seattle), who sponsored the original domestic partnership measure last year, is sponsoring the bill’s expansion in the Senate this year. The bill, if passed, would grant same-sex couples more than 170 benefits and responsibilities given to married couples including property and guardianship rights.
“It’s a significant piece of legislation, but it still leaves hundreds of rights and benefits and responsibilities of marriage out,” Murray said, noting that the bill covers only a fraction of the 485 rights and responsibilities that married couples have.
The 199-page bill makes several changes to 173 sections of state law, including those pertaining to probate trusts, community property, and guardianship and powers of attorney.
“The overriding theme for this package is the financial security of domestic partners and their families,” explained Rep. Jamie Pedersen (D-Seattle), who is sponsoring the measure in the House. Murray and Pedersen are two of the legislature’s five openly gay lawmakers.
Numerous House representatives and senators are opposing the legislation, saying domestic partnerships “dilute traditional marriage.”
Gov. Chris Gregoire, however, who has not seen the bill yet, is supportive of expanding the domestic partnership law, according to spokesman Aaron Toso.
“Because, really, the culture is changing, and the politics has to catch up with the culture,” Toso stated.
Last July, the bill “[p]rotecting individuals in domestic partnerships by granting certain rights and benefits” went into effect, providing unmarried couples hospital visitation rights, the ability to authorize autopsies and organ donations, and inheritance rights when there is no will.
Murray said gay rights supporters will come back every year to introduce new rights until eventually they get to marriage.
Comments
The irony is YOU are "pulling isolated verses"--about homosexuality--to support your claim that it's a sin, even though the verses that support slavery and the killing of children are also very clear. It's not only condoned, it's ordained by God.
Where is the irony in homosexuality being a sin? It is clear cut in the Bible.
"The segregationists were like many people in that they drew some isolated verses in the Bible to support an opinion they had."
OMG -- The IRONY!!
No we went to war because the South wanted to expand slavery rights into states where they were banning slavery. And why did those states want to ban slavery? Because they were following the dictates of their conscience from what they read in the Bible.
The segregationists were like many people in that they drew some isolated verses in the Bible to support an opinion they had. A who lead that charge for change? Off the top of my head I would credit Rev. Martin Luther King for spearheading the movement.
Both movements were the result of Christian ideals. But the Bible clearly spells out that homosexuality is a sin. Every verse concerning homosexuality is clear. So its really not that tough of a call.
"But which is more courageous, to stand by your beliefs and faith in the face of ever changing social mores or to go with the flow? "
I don't know, ender. I guess it took a lot of courage to stand by slavery when the "ever changing mores" started dictating that it was a violation of human rights. We did go to war over it. But then when interracial marriage was legalized in '67 I'd say the people who were going against the good Christian majority who wanted it to remain illegal were the braver. Of course they didn't have convictions, they were just followiong their own selfish interracial desires (at least that's the way the Christian majority viewed it back then). So it's a tough call.
There seems to be something overlooked in these discussions. To be a Christian means that you believe the Bible. You accept its laws, its prophecies, and its Savior. Many on here seem to relish in trying to subvert biblical verses and laws. But which is more courageous, to stand by your beliefs and faith in the face of ever changing social mores or to go with the flow?
Guess I should clarify something- homosexuality is a sin. So is lying. So is theft. Pretty simple.
Marriage is a Church instituition. Civil unions should be fine with we Christians- That is a worldly law, and we are held to a Godly law, WITH IN OUR CHURCH.. Allowing homosexual weddings within the Church is not. justifiable because the instructions to rebuke and cast out until repentance of persistant sinners. If I were a hedonist, and I continued to be so after converstion, then I would be rightfully cast out, until I repented. If I were a liar, a thief, or gay, and I continued in my sins after conversion, I would face the same fate. If I were gay, hedonistic, or criminal and NOT a Christian, then I am bound only by the world's law. Don't hand me the "well the world's law shoud be God's Law" statement's, either. They will be, but at that time we will mourn for all those friends who didn't convert because our bad example of what Christianity is about. Remember the whole "Why do you long for the great and terrible day of THE LORD?" question God asks? Try meditating on that for awhile, beloved, and you will see the whole meaning.
C'mon SheQuon. Don't you know that when the bible says "slaves obey your masters" or to smite your disobedient children, there's room for interpretation. It's just the gay stuff you have to take letter for letter! Isn't it obvious? You should be glad they're taking time out from their duties at the Westboro Baptist church to educate you!
"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" Romans 6:1-2
"Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" Romans 6:12-16
It is very sad commentary on society that you people just reek of FEAR. What are you afraid of?
I like that coinage "anti-gay Christian." Why don't you call us what we are? Anti-sin Christians. Or better yet, just call us Christians. That's what we are. I don't hear anyone calling us anti-murder Christians, or anti-rape Christians.
Shequon,
No, there is no "oh that's different" argument. If you have truly read the New Testament, then you would know that God considers homosexuality a sin.
I have read the New Testament, but the verse that most anti-gay "Christians" cite when they condemn homosexuality is that "abomination" verse from Leviticus. And if I were "misled" I would be the one believing that the same bible that says it's okay to own slaves is the one I should listen to when it says it's okay to discriminate against gay people. (Now here comes the "Oh, that's different!" argument.)
Really, marriage is an instiution of the Church. Since homosexual practices are sinful, the CHURCH must deny any requests for same sex marriage. If memory serves, the bi in LEV. states that any man who lays with another, both must be taken outside the camp and stoned to death. In other words- the Laws are enforced only upon those within the Church proper. Second- a homosexual may be a sinner, but so are we. I seem to recall a passage about "he who breaks the least of the Law, breaks all of the Law" in the back of my new testament. That would mean lying is the same as homosexuality. God be with us all.
Shequon,
Shelfish were not forbidden 2000 years ago (read about the revelation that God gave Peter in a vision), and Jesus worked on the Sabbath.
Why not check the New Testament. It's the group of books after the Old Testament. Starts with Matthew and ends with Revelation. Read and study the Gospels, and Acts. Then you'll understand how misled you are.