New gay rights law being approved by voters

[mimitabby]

Source: Seattle PI



Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Last updated 8:28 p.m. PT
New gay rights law being approved by voters
Measure expands rights of same-sex domestic partners

By CHRIS GRYGIEL
SEATTLEPI.COM STAFF

Voters Tuesday were approving Washington's new "everything but marriage" law that greatly expands the rights of gay couples.

In early election returns Referendum 71 was passing 52 percent to 47 percent.

Meanwhile voters in Maine were deciding the fate of that state's new gay marriage law. In early returns there the issue was too close to call.

In Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire signed a bill 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.

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# Workers' compensation coverage.
# The right to use sick leave to care for a spouse.
# Victims' rights, including the right to receive notifications and benefits allowances. Business succession 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
# Insurance rights, including rights under group policies, policy rights after death of spouse, conversion rights, and continuing coverage rights.

California, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oregon, Washington and the District of Columbia have laws that either recognize civil unions or domestic partnerships that afford same-sex couples similar rights to marriage. Thirty states have gay marriage bans in their constitutions.

Read more: http://www.seattlepi.com/local/411801_gayrights03.html

[mimitabby]

1. for once there's good news this election

how come no one cares?

[existentialist]

2. news coverage

This good news.

I think nobody seems to care because almost no one knows.

I've been following the elections somewhat for a couple of weeks. Of course I've also working, and wasting time, and whatnot, but your post on the Washington issue was the first I'd heard of it.

Meanwhile, what is the spin on most of the election coverage?

That the Republicans won, and its the beginning of a new Republican and "conservative" wave in politics.

I don't think so.


In particular, I just read a poll off the MSN web page that asked what the message of last night's elections was. I was very much in the smallest minority when I voted "I don't know." Two of the most popular options were variations on how the Republicans had started a major comeback. That's absurd.

What I wanted to put was that the mainstream media including MSN have a distinct pro Republican biase. But that option wasn't available.

[mimitabby]

3. this is really GOOD news

i guess even on DU bad news sells. Most everyone is asleep, you're probably right.

[Kajsa]

4. This is excellent news!

And it's the first I've heard of it.

Thanks so much for sharing this.

:)

[grantcart]

5. thanks for the update

[mimitabby]

6. and from the Seattle times:

Tuesday's results show "this state really is hearing the story we're trying to tell about who gay and lesbian families are," he said. "That's really what this is about."

Passage of the referendum would mean that Senate Bill 5688 could be enacted in about a month, once the election is certified. Among other benefits, the measure would allow domestic partners to take time off to care for a sick partner.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010196421_elexref7104m.html

[alp227]

7. Great job Washington voters...but is this the right compromise?

I mean, on one side you have the LGBT's who want to be recognized as married just so that they can get equal rights. And on the other side you have the blatantly anti-equality folks or those who do believe in equal rights but just that "marriage is between a man and a woman". So if Maine and California proposed "all but marriage" type of legislation that'd grant same-sex couples 100% of the rights of hetero couples would the people have approved?

[No Elephants]

8. Good news. Of course, marriage would be better. The is upgrading

third class citizenship to second class citizenship. Our friends and family all deserve first class citizenship and full human rights. Still, K & R for a state that at least voted in the correct direction. Let's hope it gets all the way there some day.

[alp227]

10. "Second class citizenship?" Hmm, I see your point

Because it's not complete without the M-word ehh?

Regarding my earlier point about compromising with the fundies, I think I might've been wrong, because I read again and noticed that it was conservative activists who put up Referendum 71. Of course, at least here it's much more obvious they're willing to do anything to deny equal rights.

[icymist]

9. K & R

:applause: