Human Rights Campaign Applauds Washington State Legislature for Passing Domestic Partnership Expansion Bill

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The following is a Press Release from the Human Rights Campaign:

Bill adds hundreds of rights and responsibilities to current law

WASHINGTON – The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, today praised the Washington State House of Representatives for passing the Domestic Partnership Expansion bill on a 62-35 vote. This follows a positive vote of 30-18 in the state Senate several weeks ago. The bill will provide registered domestic partners with access to the rights and responsibilities granted to spouses under state law.

“We applaud the Washington state legislature for providing these important protections under Washington state law to committed lesbian and gay couples and we thank Senators Ed Murray and Joe McDermott and Representatives Jamie Pedersen, Dave Upthegrove, Jim Moeller and Marko Liias, as well as Equal Rights Washington for their leadership on this civil rights issue,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “This is another important step toward full equality, and it will provide tangible, much needed legal protections for families in Washington.”

The bill now heads to the desk of Governor Christine Gregoire for signing. In 2007, Governor Gregoire signed the first Domestic Partner bill into law, creating a domestic partner registry and providing some rights to lesbian and gay couples and their families. In 2008, the Governor signed legislation providing domestic partners with 160 of the more than 400 rights and responsibilities afforded to married couples. This year’s Domestic Partnership Expansion bill grants approximately 250 additional rights and responsibilities to registered domestic partners.

The Human Rights Campaign worked directly with Equal Rights Washington to mobilize thousands of supporters to lobby their legislators in Olympia, send over 35,000 emails and make thousands of phone calls to legislators.

In addition to Washington, eleven states plus Washington, D.C. have laws providing at least some form of state-level relationship recognition for gay and lesbian couples. Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa (as of April 27, 2009), and Vermont (as of September 1, 2009) recognize marriage for gay and lesbian couples under state law. Four states—California, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oregon—plus Washington, D.C. provide gay and lesbian couples with access to the state level benefits and responsibilities of marriage, through either civil unions or domestic partnerships.

Maine and Hawaii provide gay and lesbian couples with limited rights and benefits. New York recognizes marriages by gay and lesbian couples validly entered into outside of New York.

Lesbian and gay couples do not receive federal rights and benefits in any state. To learn more about state by state legislation visit: www.hrc.org/state_laws.


The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

D.C. Council Votes to Recognize Same-Sex Marriages From Other States

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Today is another good news day for the LGBT community. The D.C. Council has voted unanimously to recognize marriages of same-sex couples that are performed in other states. This is exciting news coming hours after Vermont became the fourth state to legalize gay marriage.

There will be a final vote in about a month that shouldn't be an issue since the initial vote was unanimous. Also, D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty is expected to sign the law. Fenty said he would review the legislation but also said "I support gay marriage." The interesting thing will be to see if Congress will get involved since they approve the cities laws over Home Rule.

Council member Phil Mendelson (D-At Large), who authored the legislation and has been fighting for the rights of the LGBT community for years said, "Some are saying it's an important step. I am saying it's a simple step."

Below is the Press release from the Human Rights Campaign

Human Rights Campaign Applauds D.C. Council Vote

to Recognize Marriages of Lesbian and Gay Couples From Other Jurisdictions

Council also voted to recognize civil unions, domestic partnerships from outside D.C. Final Council votes expected May 5;

bills require approval by Mayor, then Congressional review

 

WASHINGTON – The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, applauded the D.C. Council for an initial 12-0 vote today to fully recognize marriages by lesbian and gay couples legally entered into in other jurisdictions.  The Council also voted to recognize civil unions and broad domestic partnerships entered into in other jurisdictions as domestic partnerships under D.C. law.  A final Council vote on both bills is expected May 5.  The bills would then be sent to Mayor Adrian Fenty and, if approved, would be sent to Congress for a 30 legislative day review period. 

 

“The D.C. Council’s votes today are another positive step toward equality, coming on the same day as the historic marriage vote in the Vermont legislature,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese.  “We look forward to the final Council votes, and urge Mayor Fenty to sign this common-sense legislation.  We also hope that Congress will respect the Council’s votes and will respect the District of Columbia’s choice to provide equal recognition for couples who have legally entered into relationships in other jurisdictions.”

 

Washington, D.C. law currently provides domestic partnerships for lesbian, gay, and heterosexual couples that give access to the rights and responsibilities of marriage under D.C. law.  Four states currently recognize marriage for lesbian and gay couples: Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa (expected to begin April 24, 2009) and Vermont (effective September 1, 2009, following a vote by the legislature earlier today). 

 

New York recognizes marriages by lesbian and gay couples legally entered into in another jurisdiction.  California recognized marriage by lesbian and gay couples between June and November of 2008, before voters approved Proposition 8, which purports to amend the state constitution to prohibit marriage equality.  The Proposition 8 vote has been challenged in court; a decision by the state supreme court is expected by June.

 

Lesbian and gay couples do not receive federal rights and responsibilities anywhere in the United States.  To learn more about state by state legislation, visit: www.hrc.org/state_laws.