Domestic partnership bill passes Senate

The Senate passed the bill to extend all the rights and responsibilities of marriage to domestic partners. The vote was 30-18.

Here is our coverage on the bills (one House bill, one Senate bill), including both the Senate and House hearings.

Both bills say the same thing: Wherever the word “marriage” exists in state statute, the bill adds a clause that says the same goes for domestic partners.

In debate, Sen. Ed Murray, the bill’s sponsor, said the bill is about basic rights for same-sex couples — like using sick leave if your partner is ill. He said it had nothing to do with adoption — which is already legal for same-sex couples in this state — or require teaching about homosexuality in school, as some opponents have alleged.

But Sen. Val Stevens said the bill is basically marriage — and that the previously passed “Defense of Marriage Act” was meant to prevent this.

Tags: Domestic partnership