January 28, 2009

Bill to close remaining equality gaps in state law for domestic partners

Lawmakers push to ensure family security for all Washington families

OLYMPIA – All of the state law rights and responsibilities for married spouses would apply to registered domestic partners in Washington state, according to legislation introduced today by state lawmakers.
 
The legislation, introduced by Sen. Ed Murray (D-Seattle) and Rep. Jamie Pedersen (D-Seattle), intends to change the hundreds of remaining laws that treat spouses and domestic partners differently. Legislation in previous years succeeded in providing basic rights and responsibilities to domestic partners in nearly 200 areas, but hundreds still remain. Roughly 100 of the remaining rights deal with public employee pension and survivorship benefits, but others include estate tax exemptions, parentage determinations, and transfer of business licenses.
 
“To me, what’s most remarkable about our announcement today is how unremarkable it is,” Murray said. “I remember the issues we confronted all those years we sought to pass civil rights for gays and lesbians before we finally succeeded in 2006.  Since then, we’ve passed not one but two domestic partnership bills. And the sky has not fallen. The public has come a long way on this issue. Many have moved on from the controversy as we’ve moved forward. And so today we move to finish our work to ensure family security for all Washington families.”
 
“This year’s legislation will finish the important work we started in 2007 to ensure that all committed couples in this state are afforded the same rights and responsibilities,” Pedersen said.
 
Since the state’s domestic partner registry began in 2007, nearly 5,000 couples living among all 49 legislative districts have registered. The 2007 legislation established the registry and ensured parity between married couples and domestic partners for 23 state rights and responsibilities. More than 170 were added in 2008 legislation, but approximately 283 remain.
 
In addition to closing that gap, Murray’s bill (SB 5688) and Pedersen’s companion bill in the House (HB 1727) would make some structural changes to the registry relating to dissolution procedures.
 
“This legislation will actually bring Washington in line with numerous other states that are much further ahead of us in terms of full equality for all couples,” Sen. Joe McDermott (D-Seattle), said.
 
Oregon, New Jersey, Vermont, California and New Hampshire all recognize equivalent rights for those in domestic partnerships or civil unions and marriage. Connecticut and Massachusetts have full marriage equality for all.
 
“In recent years our state has embraced the historic, long-overdue notion that discrimination based on a person’s sexual orientation has no place in the community,” Rep. Jim Moeller (D-Vancouver), said. “Although this legislation doesn’t achieve the full equality that marriage would ensure, it is another important step forward in the process.”
 
“We must give every family the chance to succeed, not just some,” Rep. Marko Liias (D-Mukilteo), said. “We all know that families are struggling on many fronts right now. Many of the benefits outlined in this legislation will help spouses keep moving forward in good times and bad.”
 
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For more information:
Jeff Reading, Senate Democratic Communications: 360.786.7845
Lucas Dressel, House Democratic Communications: 360.786.7697
 
For interviews:
Sen. Ed Murray, 360.786.7628
Rep. Jamie Pedersen, 360.786.7826