Washington Making Same Sex Marriage Legal By Stealth?
posted by: Steve W. 298 days ago
Plans for legislature to extend the rights afforded by marriage to same-sex couples have been unveiled in Washington this past week which would strike a decisive victory for LGBT people who have long campaigned for equality. However, this action would fall short of legalizing actual same-sex marriage in Washington, but critics have said it does everything but.
Whilst some legal rights are already established under domestic partnerships for same sex couples, this new bill would affirm equal protections comparable to marriage in the state of Washington, a move that is being sponsored by Representative Jamie Pederson, an out gay member of the Democratic party (and one of six openly gay law makers supporting the bill), with the full backing of the state governor.
The 110-page Washington bill will amend all instances where only those within marriage are protected, extending those rights to domestic partnership or same-sex couples by including them in such areas as pensions and all employee benefits in a bid to “protect all Washington’s families” as Senator Ed Murray, a supporter of the legislature, said.
This same-sex partnership measure builds on previous legislature Senator Murray pursued that allowed visitation rights in hospitals as well as a partner being able to give consent for organ transplants and authorize autopsies, as well as giving inheritance rights should there be no will left by their deceased.
However, there has been widespread criticism of the Washington bill by those cautious of gay marriage and same-sex partnership who claim that it is "with this year's legislation, they (gay groups) are taking the final step to stitch together gay marriage in a state that does not legally permit it," as Senator Dan Swecker of the Republican party said in a prepared statement on the matter.
However, Senator Murray denies this accusation, saying of the same-sex rights bill that, "The purpose of this legislation is to provide a way for us to talk about how our families are harmed concretely by their exclusion from civil marriage," but then did add, "we hope that sooner, rather than later, we'll be here talking about a marriage bill."
The Family Policy Institute of Washington, who firmly oppose the bill, have drawn parallels between same-sex marriage and any step toward it including domestic partnerships, likening it to polygamous marriage, as well as saying that homosexuality is comparable to incest and under-age marriage, commenting in a press-release that:
"Canada became the fourth nation to legalize same-sex marriage in 2005 when they enforced the Civil Marriage Act. Last month, the Tri-City Herald reported that two leaders of rival polygamous groups in Vancouver, B.C., made their first court appearance to file lawsuits demanding equal recognition and protection under the law," and then went on to say, "Same-sex marriage activists routinely say that they want to 'end discrimination' as it pertains to marriage equality. However, state law currently discriminates against polygamy, incest and under-age marriages. Do same-sex proponents also want to end the discrimination against groups that promote these kinds of relationships?" (Russell Johnson, World Net Daily, Feb 4th 2009).
Needless to say, gay groups have reacted angrily to Johnson’s statement, but have encouraged all concerned not to let those words, words of considerable faulty logic, take focus from the proposed Washington bill and the significant step it would make for gay and lesbian same-sex couples.
The bill has its next public hearing on the 5th of February and will specify that, to be registered as domestic partners certain criteria must be met that include co-habitation, be of consenting age (18) and be a part of no other domestic partnership or marriage.
In context, five states will this year debate measures to grant gay and lesbian marriage, including Vermont, New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire and Maine, whilst Hawaii and New Mexico will follow in Washington's footsteps and debate legislature allowing same-sex couples the same privileges as given through marriage.
Coinciding with this, it has been announced that the validity of the Californian Proposition 8, which banned same sex marriage, will be examined on March 5th.
Whilst some legal rights are already established under domestic partnerships for same sex couples, this new bill would affirm equal protections comparable to marriage in the state of Washington, a move that is being sponsored by Representative Jamie Pederson, an out gay member of the Democratic party (and one of six openly gay law makers supporting the bill), with the full backing of the state governor.
The 110-page Washington bill will amend all instances where only those within marriage are protected, extending those rights to domestic partnership or same-sex couples by including them in such areas as pensions and all employee benefits in a bid to “protect all Washington’s families” as Senator Ed Murray, a supporter of the legislature, said.
This same-sex partnership measure builds on previous legislature Senator Murray pursued that allowed visitation rights in hospitals as well as a partner being able to give consent for organ transplants and authorize autopsies, as well as giving inheritance rights should there be no will left by their deceased.
However, there has been widespread criticism of the Washington bill by those cautious of gay marriage and same-sex partnership who claim that it is "with this year's legislation, they (gay groups) are taking the final step to stitch together gay marriage in a state that does not legally permit it," as Senator Dan Swecker of the Republican party said in a prepared statement on the matter.
However, Senator Murray denies this accusation, saying of the same-sex rights bill that, "The purpose of this legislation is to provide a way for us to talk about how our families are harmed concretely by their exclusion from civil marriage," but then did add, "we hope that sooner, rather than later, we'll be here talking about a marriage bill."
The Family Policy Institute of Washington, who firmly oppose the bill, have drawn parallels between same-sex marriage and any step toward it including domestic partnerships, likening it to polygamous marriage, as well as saying that homosexuality is comparable to incest and under-age marriage, commenting in a press-release that:
"Canada became the fourth nation to legalize same-sex marriage in 2005 when they enforced the Civil Marriage Act. Last month, the Tri-City Herald reported that two leaders of rival polygamous groups in Vancouver, B.C., made their first court appearance to file lawsuits demanding equal recognition and protection under the law," and then went on to say, "Same-sex marriage activists routinely say that they want to 'end discrimination' as it pertains to marriage equality. However, state law currently discriminates against polygamy, incest and under-age marriages. Do same-sex proponents also want to end the discrimination against groups that promote these kinds of relationships?" (Russell Johnson, World Net Daily, Feb 4th 2009).
Needless to say, gay groups have reacted angrily to Johnson’s statement, but have encouraged all concerned not to let those words, words of considerable faulty logic, take focus from the proposed Washington bill and the significant step it would make for gay and lesbian same-sex couples.
The bill has its next public hearing on the 5th of February and will specify that, to be registered as domestic partners certain criteria must be met that include co-habitation, be of consenting age (18) and be a part of no other domestic partnership or marriage.
In context, five states will this year debate measures to grant gay and lesbian marriage, including Vermont, New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire and Maine, whilst Hawaii and New Mexico will follow in Washington's footsteps and debate legislature allowing same-sex couples the same privileges as given through marriage.
Coinciding with this, it has been announced that the validity of the Californian Proposition 8, which banned same sex marriage, will be examined on March 5th.
Read more: state, marriage, gay, sex, washington, rights, same, civil rights
comments
its about time. I just commented on another story that stated that until and unless such Unions have the same rights as married people, from the tax laws to the landlord, then its not equality. This at least would give them that and here here for having another look at Prop 8. That never should have made it to the vote to start with, as the state as a whole had said, ok.. its legal. Then turned around and made it illeagel and seeks to divorice all those who married. It is unjust and insane. If the people said. yes.. why wasnt that good enough ? Why was it permitted to even put it to another vote ? It had just been voted on ! So cudos for the law makers promoteing this.
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Equal rights, including marriage for ALL. I am a proud grandmother of a beautiful, sweet, successful, contributing member of society who happens also to be GAY. I would not want him to be straight because he would not be the wonderful person he is. He would be wonderful but he would not be the same grandson I now have. Never, not for a moment, have I ever wished him to be different. Never have I been anything but proud. Never have I felt anything but love for my grandson. I want him to have all the rights and privileges he deserves as a contributing member of society. He deserves nothing less. All of the resistance to according rights, including marriage, to gay men and women is based on learned fear of people who are different. We are all different in some way. It is what makes us each unique. Now is the time to embrace diversity and stop treating Gay men and women as lesser beings.
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We are all human beings, and love truly has no gender. Let there be peace on earth... love one another...does it really matter who does what in their own bedroom as long as it's concentual? Studies have shown gay couples to be as good or better at parenting than hetero couples. Think of all the children in foster care who are being given homes by these loving couples...just one example of why love is all there is. Can't we all just all get along?????
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