Last year, Governor Christine Gregoire signed the Domestic Partner Bill into law. The law took effect on July 23, 2007, approximately one year after the Washington State Supreme Court ruled against marriage equality for same-sex couples.
During the 2008 legislative session, legislators and organizations (including ERW) are working to pass the domestic partnership expansion bill. Building on the successes of 2007, this bill would grant 160 of the 400-plus joint rights and responsibilities of married couples to domestic partners in Washington State. The new rights would include, but aren't limited to: nursing home visitation, veterans benefits, community property, probate and trust, testimonial privileges, campaign finance disclosure, and guardianship and power of attorney. It would also provide guidelines for dissolution and recognize domestic partnerships and civil unions from other states.
This bill is an important step towards protecting Washington's vulnerable families until marriage equality can be achieved. ERW and its allies continue to work to that end.
The Washington State Supreme Court Ruled Against Marriage
Equality, but the Fight Goes On
In a narrow and bitterly divided
ruling the Washington State Supreme Court in 2006 upheld the State's
so-called "Defense of Marriage Act" and ruled that it did not
violate the State Constitution.
Although this is a set-back, ERW
and our coalition partners will press on to make our case before
the citizens of Washington State and in our state legislature that
same-sex couples should receive the same benefits and protections
as heterosexual couples.
ERW
filed a 'friend of the court' brief in the marriage equality
case that was before the State Supreme Court. Filed along with
many other LGBT groups it contains many facts about Washington's
LGBT community, and many useful arguing points against
the distortions offered as arguments against marriage equality.
Did
you know, for example, that 24% of same sex couples in this
state are raising children? Check
it out (warning, very large file, may take a
while to download)
To win our rights we must take our arguments and our
stories to the public. Join ERW in the fight to correct the mistaken
verdict of the courts.
1) The terms we use when speaking to others about marriage rights are important. We should seek to avoid using terms such as "gay marriage" and "same sex marriage" because those terms set gays and their relationships apart. Such terminology sends the message that the marriage of gays and lesbians would be different or special. When we talk about marriage, here are some phrases we should use instead:
Marriage
Legal Marriage
Marriage Equality
Marriages of Same-Sex Couples
2) Civil marriage is a personal choice that should not be denied by our government to couples just because they are of the same sex. Marriage is commitment between two people. Just like heterosexual couples, gay and lesbian couples grow up dreaming of meeting a partner, getting married and growing old together. They should not be denied their portion of the American dream simply because their chosen partner is of the same sex.
3) Marriage is a pro-family ideal that protects the rights of couples and provides stability and security to families. There are over 1000 federal rights and more than 300 state rights and obligations that protect married couples and families, including:
Social Security survivor and pension benefits
Hospital visitation rights
Medical decision making rights
Inheritance rights
End-of-life decisions (burial)
Family leave under the federal "Family Medical Leave Act" (FMLA)
4) Children are negatively impacted by discrimination. According to the 2000 census there are more than a million children being raised by same-sex couples in the U.S. and they deserve protection as well. Currently, the children of same sex couples are needlessly deprived of the protections that most families take for granted. Allowing two people who are in a loving and committed long-term relationship to have legal protections will have a positive impact on their children.
5) Religious objections to same sex marriage should not apply when discussing legal marriage. We are not asking people to change their religious beliefs. Access to legal marriage is completely unrelated to the right of religious institutions to decide whom they will marry just as various religious institutions have always made those decisions in regard to heterosexual couples. No church or other religious institution will be required to perform a ceremony for a same sex couple, although many religious denominations do perform marriages for same-sex couples and have done so for many years.
6) The tradition of marriage is not harmed by access to legal marriage for same sex couples. There is nothing to fear from equality. Nothing about the marriage of a same sex couple changes the individual marriages of others. Marriage does have a long history of excluding same-sex couples but that doesn't necessarily mean that it promotes and furthers American values and traditions. In fact, marriage equality would build on America's tradition of moving civil rights forward and erasing the inequities of the past. One of the most highly valued traditions in this country has been to pass laws to safeguard people and to expand laws where they leave citizens unprotected.
7) Civil Unions do not provide the same rights, benefits and obligations as marriage. While domestic partnership benefits and civil unions have provided concrete benefits for some same-sex couples, they fall short of the benefits provided to couples under marriage laws.
Marriage:
State grants marriage licenses to couples.
Couples receive legal protections and rights under state and federal law.
Couples are recognized as being married by the federal government and all state governments.
Religious institutions are not required to recognize marriages or perform marriage ceremonies.
Civil Unions:
State would grant civil union licenses to couples.
Couples receive legal protections and rights under state law only.
Civil unions are not recognized by other states or federal government.
Religious institutions are not required to recognize civil unions or perform civil union ceremonies.
8) The proposed Federal Constitutional Amendment is unjust, unfair and goes against the principles on which this country was founded. Amending the Constitution is a very rare act, only done to address a significant public policy need. It has never been amended to single out a class of people for unequal treatment. The proposed FMA writes discrimination into the constitution and is anti-family. As written, the FMA would actually repeal basic civil rights that have been affirmed for gays and lesbians in several cities and states.
9) Complaints about "activist judges" are unfounded. It is the proper role of the judicial branch of government to interpret our laws and constitutions and it is not surprising that many would confirm that same-sex couples are not excluded when it comes to equal rights and protections. Issues of equality should not be decided on the basis of a popular vote or polls.
There are things you can do right now to further the cause of equal rights and marriage.
The most important thing you can do right now is to join ERW in working at a grassroots level to elect state and local legislators who support equality by donating money, fundraising, door knocking for candidates and registering progressive voters.
Urge your members of Congress to oppose the Federal Marriage Amendment or any Constitutional amendment to ban marriage for same-sex couples. Make a personal visit if you can.
Talk to your friends and family members about the importance of marriage for same-sex couples and their children. Recent polls of the GLBT community show that many of us have not yet talked to parents, siblings or other family members about the discrimination we face. Yet nothing moves the hearts and minds of potential straight allies more than hearing the stories of someone they know who is gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.
Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper saying why you support marriage for same-sex couples and why a constitutional amendment against it is a bad idea.
Next time you hear someone say marriage is only meant for heterosexual couples, speak up. If you hear this on a radio program, call in. If you hear it on TV, call or send an e-mail. If it comes up in conversation, set the record straight.
Host a house party to raise funds for ERW and educate your friends and family about marriage equality. Invite a diverse group and inspire them to write letters to Congress and your state government at your house party.
Meet with clergy and other opinion leaders in your community and ask them to join you in speaking out in support of marriage equality and against the Federal Marriage Amendment.
Seattle Gay News and Equal Rights Washington were in Olympia on July 23rd for the first day of Washington state's domestic partnership registry. Go to the photo album (.pdf) to read about what happened and to see photos of many of the couples that registered in person. Congratulations to everyone that participated!
Couples Register in Olympia July 23rd
See a short Trick Dog Films video about couples registering on the first day the new domestic partnership law went into effect.
Domestic Partner Registration
The Domestic Partnership registration forms and information are now available here on the Secretary of State's website.
Domestic Partner Survey
Thank you to everyone who responded to our survey about the new DP law! We've tabulated the results from the over 900 couples who responded. Download our press release (pdf; 19k) and the results summary (pdf; 14k) to see for yourself.
Equal Rights Washington (ERW) works to ensure and promote dignity, safety, and equality for all lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Washingtonians.
