Family Security

SECURITY FOR ALL FAMILIES

Since the state’s domestic partner registry for gay and lesbian families began in 2007, nearly 5,000 couples living among all 49 legislative districts have registered. The 2007 legislation established the registry and ensured parity between married couples and domestic partners for 23 state rights and responsibilities. More than 170 were added in 2008 legislation, but approximately 283 remain.

Senate Bill 5688, introduced by Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, would finish the domestic partnership effort by changing the hundreds of remaining laws that treat spouses and domestic partners differently. Under the bill, all of the state law rights and responsibilities for married spouses would apply to registered domestic partners in Washington.

"To me, what’s most remarkable about this legislation is how unremarkable it is. I remember the issues we confronted all those years we sought to pass civil rights for gays and lesbians before we finally succeeded in 2006. Since then, we’ve passed not one but two domestic partnership bills. And the sky has not fallen. The public has come a long way on this issue. Many have moved on from the controversy as we’ve moved forward. And so today we move to finish our work to ensure family security for all Washington families." - Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle

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