Washington State
Expands Domestic-Partnership Law

Washington State governor Chris Gregoire signed a bill Wednesday that will expand the state's Domestic Partner Law to provide more than 160 new rights and responsibilities to registered domestic partners in the state. The new law goes into effect June 12.

"Governor Gregoire has been a longtime supporter of civil rights for members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community, and we sincerely thank her for signing this historic measure into law," said Equal Rights Washington executive director Connie Watts. "We're thrilled that the legislature has taken this action to protect Washington's vulnerable families and especially thank the legislators in Olympia who helped to move this bill forward. We were glad to see that the floor debates were constructive and civil." The bill passed the senate this month by a 29-20 vote and passed the house last month by 62-32.

Recent polls conducted by the University of Washington show an increasing number of Washingtonians support equal rights for LGBT people. In 2007, 73% expressed support for legal recognition of same-sex relationships, with 59% of state voters saying that same-sex couples deserve rights identical to those afforded their straight peers. (More information can be found at www.washingtonpoll.org.) (The Advocate)