The measure asked people to approve or reject the latest expansion of the new state law that Gov. Chris Gregoire signed in May granting same sex domestic partners all the rights of married couples. That same month conservative interests announced they would attempt to overturn the new law and enough signatures were collected enough to place R-71 on the November ballot.
The original domestic partnership law, backed by Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, two years ago, provided inheritance rights in cases where there was no will, hospital visitation rights, the ability to authorize autopsies and organ donations. About 6,000 domestic partnership registrations have been filed since July 2007.
Some rights and responsibilities that would be extended to gay and lesbian families under the latest legislation are:
Workers' compensation coverage.
Victims' rights, including the right to receive notifications and benefits allowances. Business succession rights.
The right to use sick leave to care for a spouse.
Insurance rights, including rights under group policies, policy rights after death of spouse, conversion rights, and continuing coverage rights.
Legal process rights, such as the ability to sign certain documents, the requirement to join in certain petitions, rights to cause of action, and ability to transfer licenses without charge.
The right to wages and benefits when a spouse is injured, and to unpaid wages upon death of spouse.
The right to unemployment and disability insurance benefits disability insurance issues
The first comment notes:
Finally some good news.
And to those of you still opposing it and bitter that it lost, relax. Your precious children are safe, your marriage is unaffected, your life will go on unchanged, and the world will not come to an end.
4 comments:
Wonderful news...it´s because I was born in that State...really:
WASHINGTON, HOME OF MY HEART, IN THE GREAT NORTHWEST, LAND OF BEAUTY, HEAVENS BEST...EMERALD STATE WE LOVE YOU, NO MATTER WHERE WE GO, EMERALD STATE WE LOVE YOU...WASHINGTON OUR HOME..WASHINGTON..OUR...HOME!!! (a Lady named ¨Blue Monday¨ taught me that song)
Lets also remember that it won very narrowly. Those opposed to us are NOT just opposed to marriage, most of them are opposed to any rights at all.
IT,
Yes, it was passed narrowly and in the western part of the state, but we did stand up for rights in big enough numbers to outshout the others. Progress for sure. I, too, would have loved to see Maine pass the marriage act. I am VERY disappointed because I held a higher opinion of the residents of Maine. So we fight on. I wish for you and BP love and happiness that shines like a beacon in the dark. That will be the light that lights the way in the darkness and gives us hope.
Dear IT and all,
I don´t mean to sound like a suckemup that´s glad for scraps from the table of life but the truth is that the many millions of supporters, family and friends that STAND with LGBT are fully appreciated by me...doesn´t matter what the score card reads at this point, it matters that WE are no longer cowards, most of us are willing to use our names (even in tiny pueblos in Latin America) and go about the business of being loving Christians/others and Human Beings...as you all know, this is NO SMALL THING for any of us and our lovedones...this is HUGE and it requires extra thought, and quality behavior standards as WE put ourselves out there to be viewed...as I was making coffee this morning I thought about the tragic events in Texas yesterday...it´s all symptoms of the great soul sickness that has confused so many, and altered our society so drastically...what started as ¨defensive measures¨ (taken late) against those who would harm us, as a Nation, has opened up great rivers of misplaced anger...WE are the focus of a World that doesn´t know who to HATE first...and we must continue marching until we get to the end of this SEASON of blame, shame, and bloodletting...now, people are firing into crowds, murdering/raping and legislating acts promoting Holocaust (Uganda) with snears/smiles on their faces...our wounds have not yet begun to heal because the infection has not been fully dealt with...the era of fear and hate is upon us and the less sound of mind are running out of control...I say, thanks be to God for the peacemakers (and those who simply say NO to greed, exploitation and any form of deceit)...we are amongst those who insist on truth...that is a very big and brave thing but not everyone is able to face their innermostselves yet.
I pray for self-honesty and self-accountability...me being responsible in all venues of my life is a start...eyes cast forward and slightly upward.
Onward.
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