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Domestic partner law should pass without a hitch through Senate

Sunday, February 24, 2008 6:47 AM PST

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The state House of Representatives approved legislation a week ago Friday to greatly expand Washington's domestic partnership law, which went into effect just seven months ago. The vote, 62-32, was taken after very little debate, according to Associated Press writer Rachel La Corte. The measure now is in the Senate, where a public hearing as been scheduled for Monday in the Committee on Government Operations and Elections.

It would surprise us if this once hot-button issue produces many fireworks during Monday's Senate hearing. There's still some resistance to extending the legal benefits married couples enjoy to same-sex couples, to be sure. But no one can dispute that same-sex relationships exist, and that many of those relationships involve children. There is a growing consensus that both the adults and children involved in these relationships deserve the law's protection and benefits.

The pending legislation, House Bill 3104, expands the domestic partnership law to include more than 170 of the protections and benefits enjoyed by married couples to unmarried heterosexual and homosexual partners. The new benefits would include probate and trusts, community property, homestead exemptions and guardianship and powers of attorney. La Corte reported. The bill also would grant domestic partners the spousal testimony rights of married couples, meaning they could refuse to testify against one another in court.

Who qualifies to register as domestic partners? Any two people who share a residence, are at least 18 years of age, are unmarried and not already registered as a domestic partner of someone else and are capable of consenting to the partnership.

A primary sponsor of this legislation, Rep. Jaime Pederson, D-Seattle, said it represents the "next step" to provide financial security for all families in the state. He's right, and taking that step clearly is the right thing to do.

Many in the private sector recognized a need to take this step long before elected officials could muster the political courage to follow. At least 100 of the Fortune 500 companies have been offering employment benefits to same-sex couples for almost a decade. These companies had a practical incentive not to discriminate in their policies. They wanted the best employees available, many of whom might be in unmarried heterosexual or homosexual partnerships.

For the state government, of course, there are both practical and moral reasons to grant all couples the same legal benefits enjoyed by married couples.

TDN, wrong again. wrote on Feb 24, 2008 10:10 AM:

" This is nothing more than an attempt to open up the up the flood gate, for additional destruction of moral values by liberal thinkers that have no values. "

Agree wrote on Feb 24, 2008 5:22 PM:

" TDN, wrong again: I absolutely agree with you; the liberals want to convince us all that gay relationships are 'normal' and 'okay' when quite the opposite is true. Research proves that children need both parents: the man (father) and woman (mother) for the best possible outcome and for society, as well. I am not in favor of being hateful to anyone, but don't try and convince me that being gay isn't a sin. The bible clearly states that murder is a sin, and everyone would agree on that; but it also states that homosexuality is a sin. That is when people start getting creative and making 'exceptions'. "

JC wrote on Feb 25, 2008 11:25 AM:

" Who is the ignorant person who said that the Bible "states that homosexuality is a sin"? It is not a sin in the Bible, merely an abomination, the same category as eating shrimp. It makes you a ritually unclean Jew. Most of us eat shrimp anyway. So I wouldn't get quite so worked up about homosexuality, either! "

RE: JC wrote on Feb 25, 2008 11:48 AM:

" What do you think "abomination" means? You're such a genius...Abomination means something that is UNACCEPTABLE in every way! The bible doesn't SAY that murder is a sin either, but it's pretty much understood. I think you need to actually READ the Bible. You should start with Romans 1:22-32 "

Daily reader wrote on Feb 25, 2008 4:55 PM:

" This is a great legislation. When it passes the senate, it will help a lot of wonderful families. "

EJC wrote on Feb 25, 2008 5:42 PM:

" Actually in original language of the Bible, the definition of "abomination" is "something that goes against the custom of a specific place." There is nothing inherently wrong, immoral, or illegal hinted at when one talks about an abomination in the Biblical sense. "

IcantBelieveIt wrote on Feb 25, 2008 10:42 PM:

" Our morals as a nation are certainly declining. This legislation will dilute the value of real marriage. There is no better substitute for marriage in our society. All the rest is damaging to our society. I believe that imorality has become so rampant in our American culture, that the young generation doesnt even know that it is bad. The kids are brought up now believing that Bad is Good and that Good is Bad. God help us.
"

Your Neighbor wrote on Feb 25, 2008 10:45 PM:

" Thank goodness for intelligent people who realize that being gay is not a sin, and that same-sex couples deserve the same rights as any mixed-sex couple. This is another step toward equal marriage, which is encouraging.

To those of you who have commented about The Bible, complaining about liberals, etc: please watch the film For The Bible Tells Me So. If it doesn't open your eyes, I don't know that there is any hope for you. "

re: EJC wrote on Feb 25, 2008 11:24 PM:

" You are wrong. Period. I don't know where you think you got your definition from. The word abomination AS DEFINED BY the "original Bible language" (by the way, can you even tell me what the "original Bible language" is? Didn't think so.) In Greek and Hebrew (in which the Bible was originally written) the word means (and I quote): properly- something disgusting; as a noun: abhorrance (which means object of repugnance); to be MORALLY filthy. THAT'S WHAT ABOMINATION MEANS! When the Bible states that something is an abomination, it sure as heck isn't saying "go out and do it, it's a good or acceptable thing"! I'm sorry but you gave a VERY weak argument. "

re: Your Neighbor wrote on Feb 26, 2008 10:40 AM:

" Whoever made that film you refer to, will see the worst judgement imaginable. And as for you, maybe you should read the Bible for yourself and see what it has to say instead of taking someone else's deceptive word for it. If you can show me a verse in the Bible--and keep it in the proper context--that says that being gay is acceptable, then I'll give you $100. I guarentee you'll not find a single one. When you say there's no hope for people that believe the Bible, you are SORELY mistaken! The content of the Bible is the only HOPE this world has at redemtion and salvation. I pray that you'll realize that before it's too late. "

Believer wrote on Feb 26, 2008 10:46 AM:

" I think some of you need to look at Romans 1:26-32. If you will read it, those verses VERY CLEARLY state that homosexuality is (and I quote) "against nature" "vile" "Shameful" "unrighteousness" "wickedness" "sexual immorality". So for those of you who argue that the Bible doesn't say that homosexuality is bad, you obviously don't read it very closely, and most likely haven't read it at all, rather have taken someone else's word for it. "

Bible talkers!!! wrote on Feb 28, 2008 10:26 AM:

" Your driving me crazy!! This issue is not about the bible. Sex before marriage is a sin in the bible. You suggest that we incarcerate all that choose to partake in premarital sex? Why is that any different from your argument that same sex couples should not be allowed to marry? What I'm trying to say is... The bible is a backing for ones beliefs, not law. You can believe that same sex marriages is a sin and that it is inappropriate along with sex before marriage, but you should not legally be able to prevent these couples from marrying the same way you cannot legally prevent sex before marriage. Your entitled to YOUR beliefs. But what you need to understand is that everyones beliefs are different. None better than the others. Law doesn't recognize the bibles "sins" as law. "

Achilles wrote on Feb 28, 2008 11:27 PM:

" Bottom line is many faith traditions such as Reform Judaism bless same sex unions. All people are made in G-d's image. Unitarian Universalits, Quakers, and the United Church of Christ bless unions between persons of the same gender. Some faith traditions, like Catholicism, don not bless gay or lesbian couples. That is there choice.

Ultimately, however the question is, upon what basis can the state deny same sex couples the right to legally marry. Religious marriage is not the issue, civil marriage is. Those who would deny gay or lesbian couples the right to civil marriage because of their interpretation of the Bible or the Torah or the Koran fail to understand the importance of the Establishment Clause of the US Constitution.

B'shalom--In Peace.
"

Jason wrote on Mar 1, 2008 10:58 AM:

" Please see the movie, "For the Bible Tells Me So." It is very well done and gives the truth about what the Bible really does say about homosesuality. That being said, our laws can't be based on any religion's rules and regulations. We need to allow civil marriage for same-gender and opposite-gender couples. Religious marriage should be a cerimonial event, but should have no legal implication. Gay couples want to be included in marriage, not destroy it. Most gays, like most straights, are really just everyday people and are not out to ruin the world. Credible research shows that children typically do best when they have two parents compared to one parent. It doesn't matter whether the parents are same or opposite gender. The research has been misunderstood to support the mom and dad is best idea, but that is twisting the research. It was comparing children with two parents to children with one parent. Please remember that. Stop using gays as a scapegoat for the decline in morals in the world. The majority of criminals are not gay so why are we to blame for society's problems? When conservative church members oppose marriage equality it turns more people away from the church and salvation through Christ. Accepting gays isn't the problem, opposing their inclusion is. "

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