April 21, 2007

Washington Approves Domestic Partnerships

It's not marriage (only legal in Massachusetts) or civil unions (only provided in New Jersey, Vermont, Connecticut and soon New Hampshire), but the state of Washington is moving in the right direction in terms of providing equal rights to its citizens.

Same-sex couples and elderly couples will be able to register as domestic partners starting this summer, after Gov. Chris Gregoire today signed into law a measure giving them some of the rights that come with marriage. The bill would create a domestic partnership registry with the state, and would provide enhanced rights for same-sex couples, including hospital visitation rights, the ability to authorize autopsies and organ donations and inheritance rights when there is no will. To be registered, couples would have to share a home, not be married or in a domestic relationship with someone else, and be at least 18.
Posted by armand at April 21, 2007 02:07 PM | TrackBack | Posted to Politics


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