Friday April 27, 2007 SGN.org |
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Volume 35 Issue 17 |
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Monday, Jul 07, 2008
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Governor signs domestic partner legislation at Capitol ceremony |
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| Governor signs domestic partner legislation at Capitol ceremony | ||
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200 gather to witness signing of landmark bill on April 21 by Robert Raketty - SGN Staff Writer Governor Christine Gregoire signed domestic partnership legislation, Senate Bill 5336, on Saturday, April 21. The ceremony took place in the crowded reception room of the state Capitol Building. The landmark bill makes Washington State the seventh in the nation, plus the District of Columbia, to establish some kind of legal recognition for same-sex couples. "This is a proud moment for me as Governor and an important step forward for our state," said Gregoire, before signing the bill. "This new law will establish some of the rights and responsibilities that same-sex couples and many of our state's families need. Gregoire recounted examples of same-sex couples who faced hardships, because they were denied rights that heterosexual spouses take for granted. She mentioned John McCluskey and Rudy Henry of Tacoma, Marge and Diane Ballantz of Spokane, and Charlene Strong of Seattle, whose partner, Kate Fleming, lost her life in a storm last December. The new law, which will take effect in July, will create a central state registry of domestic partnerships at the Secretary of State's office. Same-sex couples and senior citizens over the age of 62 must share a home, not be married or in a domestic relationship with someone else and be at least 18 years old to qualify. In addition, the law will extend certain rights and privileges to registered domestic partners, such as the right of a person to visit a partner in the hospital; make medical decisions for an incapacitated partner; make funeral arrangements; and attain inheritance rights in the absence of a will. The signing comes only a year after the Washington State Supreme Court, in a narrow 5-4 decision, upheld a 1998 law that bars same-sex couples from marriage and only months after five openly Gay legislators announced their intention to introduce domestic partnership legislation. "Today, we take a significant step in undoing the hurt the Legislature inflicted on Gay and Lesbian families in 1998. Today is a beginning, not an end," said State Senator Ed Murray, D-Seattle, the bill's primary Senate sponsor and second openly Gay person to serve in the Senate. "It signifies promises kept and promises we must keep. It offers the hope that one day, all Lesbian and Gay families will be treated truly equal under the law. It took courage to arrive here today." State Representative Joe McDermott, D-Seattle, the prime sponsor of the House version of the bill, said that more progress needs to be made to achieve full marriage equality for Lesbian and Gay couples in Washington State. "We are taking an important step in the right direction, but we cannot forget the final goal. We know too well that real changes in justice don't happen over night," he said. "It may take awhile, but that is just how social evolution takes place. Sometimes it takes much thought to come to recognize a situation that later seems as clear as the lighthouse on Alki Point. We will get there." Three other openly Gay lawmakers where also in attendance at the signing on Saturday. Representatives Jim Moeller, D-Vancouver, Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, and Dave Upthegrove, D-Des Moines, had unveiled the legislation at a press conference at the start of the legislative session and co-sponsored of the House version of the legislation. There were a number of touching moments at the signing. Murray said he would give his pen - one of several used by the Governor to sign the legislation - to longtime marriage equality advocate John Wilkinson, who "taught me and mentored me on the needs of Gay and Lesbian families," he said. Murray and McDermott also thanked their partners for their love and support and singled out Strong for special recognition. All where present and received loud applause. McDermott said Strong touched the "hearts and minds" of his fellow legislators by telling her story. "Her commitment to make sure that other couples don't experience what she faced is extraordinary," he said. Murray thanked many for their support of the bill, including lawmakers on both sides of the aisle politically, individuals and organizations and lobbyists for Equal Rights Washington, the Northwest Women's Law Center and the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington. McDermott also thanked the Governor for being a "constant support, ally and advocate" for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community in Washington State. "She has shared our grief and our setbacks and celebrated our accomplishments," he said. "I have seen how her personal leadership has motivated us to achieve our successes and she is a key part of why we are here today signing the domestic partner registry." |
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