Washington state couples close to winning freedom to marry

A bipartisan vote in the Washington State House this week sent a marriage equality bill to the desk of Gov. Christine Gregoire, who is expected to sign it into law Monday. The law could become effective in June unless opponents can gather the signatures necessary to force the issue onto a statewide ballot. 

The final House debate featured testimony from openly gay lawmakers including Rep. Jamie Pedersen (pictured), who told his colleagues "I would like our four children to understand...that their daddy and their papa have made that lifelong commitment to each other."

Washington considers recognizing out-of-state marriages

A Washington state bill sponsored by state Rep. Laurie Jinkins would recognize same-sex couples in legal marriages or civil unions under the state's domestic partnership law. 

"It says if you have a marriage in another state, you get a domestic partnership here," Jinkins said, explaining that she is attempting to make a technical correction to an existing law. The bill, which has passed in the House, will head to the state Senate.

Out legislators in Washington state file marriage equality bill

Washington state Sen. Ed Murray (pictured), who is openly gay, introduced a bill on Monday that would convert the state's strong partnership rights laws for same-sex couples to full marriage equality. State Rep. Jim Moeller, who is also openly gay, is expected to file a similar bill today. 

"I believe the Legislature and the public are both ready to take that final step," Murray said in a release.

David Catania is out and at-large in DC

David Catania, the at-large member of the Washington, D.C., City Council who helped steer the city's marriage-rights bill, is an unlikely figure in District politics. He was elected as a Republican in a Democratic town (although he later broke with his party over marriage equality) and has established himself as a force to be reckoned with in D.C. politics. The marriage-rights bill passed 11-2 in a second City Council vote today.

DC city council says 'I do' to gay marriage

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), the nation's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media advocacy and anti-defamation organization, today applauded the Washington, D.C. city council’s vote to pass legislation that extends marriage equality to same-sex couples in the District. The bill will now be sent to District Mayor Adrian Fenty, followed by the U.S. Congress. By law, Congress has 30 days to review and overturn laws created by the District's city council.

“Gay and lesbian people in our nation’s capitol are today one step closer to the important legal protections that marriage affords and that all loving and committed couples deserve,” said Jarrett Barrios, President of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. “Today’s vote affirms the commitment of so many gay and lesbian couples in the District and reflects the growing support for protecting people equally under the law.”

"GLAAD congratulates and expresses our deepest appreciation to DC For Marriage, Campaign for All DC Families, and the organizations and couples whose personal stories moved the council to today’s historic vote," Barrios said. “We also encourage media reporting on this story to ground their coverage in the stories of our allies in the faith community and the couples whose love and commitment is at the heart of today's decision.”

Washington upholds domestic partnership law

Today the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, applauded voters in Washington for passing Referendum 71, approving the state’s domestic partnership law and preserving legal rights and benefits for thousands of families. The domestic partnership law that the voters upheld provides registered same-sex and senior domestic partners with the same legal protections, benefits, and obligations that marriage provides under state law. The initiative passed by a margin of 52.5 to 47.5.

“The people of Washington have rejected a mean-spirited attempt to rob some citizens of the protections that others receive. The passage of Referendum 71 assures that state-registered domestic partners will have the same financial and personal security under state law as their neighbors.” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “Although only marriage is truly equal, this referendum provides tangible protections that are more important than ever in these uncertain economic times,” he added.

The bill to expand domestic partner benefits was passed in May 2009 and signed into law by Governor Christine Gregoire. The measure was placed on the ballot after opponents collected enough signatures to qualify for a referendum.

Gay marriage under attack in Washington

Same-sex relationships are once again under attack. Last month it was in Maine. Now, a second critical battle for equality has opened up on the other side of the country. Washington State’s important new domestic partnership law is being challenged.

Lambda Legal has joined more than 150 organizations — LGBT, faith-based, communities of color, seniors, labor and children’s organizations — who together are “Washington Families Standing Together,” the coalition that’s fighting to protect the newly enacted law.

Voters must approve Referendum-71 on November 3rd.

By slim margins, R-71 qualified for the Washington General Election ballot in November. In just a few weeks, state residents will be asked to vote on R-71, an antigay attempt to repeal the State’s domestic partnership expansion law that offers essential protections to registered same-sex couples.

With less than 60 days until the election, it is very important that the gay community gives as much support now as possible to protect same-sex relationships in Washington State.

Visit the Washington Families Standing Together website to learn how you can help to distribute Approve Ref-71 materials or donate to the cause.

HRC applauds Washington decision

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.