Washington State to Recognize Marriages from Other Jurisdictions

Washington State has voted to recognize same-sex marriages from other states as legal domestic partnerships under a bill approved by the state Senate. Meanwhile, here in Virginia, one's ownership of a dog or cat is afforded more legal recognition than a life commitment between same sex couples. Heavens forbid that the Virginia GOP offend the Christian Taliban at The Family Foundation. The vote in Washington State will obviously make that state more competitive for the best and brightest in the work force regardless of the sexual orientation. My son has moved back to Washington State - he could not stand Virginia's social and cultural backwardness - and one of my daughters will soon be headed there to be with her boyfriend. Naturally, the boyfriend and I will be making a visit out there later in the year. The Seattle Times looks at this legislative development and here are some highlights:
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Washington would recognize same-sex marriages from other states as legal domestic partnerships under a bill approved by the state Senate Wednesday. The Senate voted 28-19 to pass the bill, HB 1649. It now heads to Gov. Chris Gregoire to sign into law. The bill would not authorize same-sex marriage in Washington, but such marriages from elsewhere would be eligible for the rights granted to domestic partnerships in this state.

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Currently, five states, the District of Columbia and Canada allow same-sex marriages, according to The Associated Press.

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“This bill is about making sure that people who love one another - and that love and friendship respected and honored in another state or another country - when they come here they have the same opportunity,” Sen. Kevin Ranker, D- San Juan Island, said on the Senate floor.

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The bill, sponsored by Rep. Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, cleared the House with a 58-39 vote earlier this month.
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Note the wide margins for passage in both houses of the legislature. Here in Virginia a gay friendly bill cannot even get out of committee in the House of Delegates which might as well be called the House of Christofascists. My advice to LGBT couples thinking of moving to Virginia continues to be: don't do it.