In 2008, Washington State expanded its domestic partnership law to give registered domestic partners essentially the same state rights as married couples.
Update
Referendum 71 was approved by voters and domestic partnerships will be allowed in Washington State.Referendum 71 was put on the ballot by conservative Christians in order to put the domestic partnership law up for a public vote. On November 3, 2009 voters in the state of Washington will have the opportunity to keep Washington's domestic partnership law or overturn it. A "yes" vote keeps the domestic partnership law. A "no" vote takes the rights that more than 12,000 people currently receive.
Domestic partnerships provide important protections for same-sex and older heterosexual couples including death benefits for the partners of police and firefighters killed in the line of duty; pension benefits for the partners of teachers, librarians and other public employees; the right to use sick leave to care for a gravely ill partner, and the right to adopt a partner’s child without paying for a home study. Unfortunately, it is often in times of crisis when domestic partnerships are most needed.
What is the wording on the ballot?
This bill would expand the rights, responsibilities, and obligations accorded state-registered same-sex and senior domestic partners to be equivalent to those of married spouses, except that a domestic partnership is not a marriage.Should this bill be:
Approved ___ Rejected __
For more about what's at stake, learn about Washington Domestic Partnerships.
For more information, to volunteer or contribute to the "Approve Referendum 71" campaign, visit their website.
