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CA Assembly Passes Domestic Partnership Equality Act

Thursday, September 8th, 2011

By Melanie Nathan
Bill Fixing Inequalities Between Domestic Partnership, Marriage Advances: SB 651, the Domestic Partnership Equality Act, eliminates statutory differences between marriage and domestic partnerships

Sacramento: The Capitol by Kristina Lapinski, GAY USA the Movie

SACRAMENTO – Legislation that removes inequalities between domestic partnership and marriage passed the Assembly today. Senate Bill 651, authored by Senator Mark Leno, eliminates important legal differences that continue to exist between domestic partnerships and marriage. The legislation, known as the Domestic Partnership Equality Act, ends the requirement that couples must reside in the same household, allows same-sex couples to enter into a confidential domestic partnership and removes age restrictions that do not apply to marriages.

“By maintaining different requirements for domestic partners and married couples, California law continues to be inconsistent with the Supreme Court’s ruling that all couples be treated equally,” said Senator Leno (D-San Francisco). “This bill will remedy some of those final inequities, including whether couples must live at the same residence before applying for a domestic partnership. As we inch ever closer to equality, the only way to ensure fair treatment is to allow all loving couples the right to marry, but this is a step in the right direction.” he said.

SB 651 closes the gap on some of the remaining differences between marriage and domestic partnership in California. However, same-sex couples still are denied more than 1,000 federal rights that come only with marriage.

The Domestic Partnership Equality Act is sponsored by Equality California.

“Committed same-sex couples in California continue to experience harm every day without the freedom to marry,” said Roland Palencia, Executive Director of Equality California. “The Domestic Partnership Equality Act helps to lessen some of those harms and inequities in the state of California, and we thank Senator Leno for his continued leadership in the fight for full equality.”

In addition to addressing inequalities between domestic partnership and marriage, SB 651 allows same-sex couples who married in California, but have since moved to another state, to petition for a divorce if one is not allowed in the state where the couple currently resides. The bill now returns to the Senate for a concurrence vote on amendments taken in the Assembly before heading to Governor Jerry Brown’s desk.

Photo by Kristina Lapinski – www.gayusathemovie.com

Posted in california, domestic partnerships, domestic partnerships ca, domestic partnershp | 2 Responses »
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Is it Better to Fight for Civil Unions, For Now?

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

Many berate me anytime I suggest that the successful “everything but marriage” campaign in the state of Washington may be a short-term blueprint for how our community should move forward on marriage equality. Of course, I try to explain that I believe in true marriage equality, but I also understand that “oatmeal is better than no meal.”

Given the current American voter climate of “throw the bums out,” it’s likely that the Democratic majority in Congress, and in state legislatures, will be significantly reduced or (god forbid) eliminated. As we continue our fight toward marriage equality, we should pursue interim steps that will ensure success in the new political environment.

Many marriage activists explain to me how separate but equal can never be equal. Separate but equal conjures up the vision of “colored” facilities that were hardly equal to those offered to whites. During segregation, separate but equal was a misnomer. However, because the concept was not effectively implemented does not mean that the concept is patently bad when applied to appropriate situations. Racial segregation was not an appropriate situation. Today, most of us experience separate but equal everyday in America and throughout the world. No, I am not talking about havens of prejudice or bigotry. Think about it, where do you experience separate but equal in your every day life?

Full Story from GLTNN
Click here for gay marriage resources.
To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

Posted in civil unions, domestic partnerships, Gay Marriage, marriage equality, same sex marriage, separate but equal | No Responses »

Who is Really Weakening the Institution of Marriage?

Tuesday, December 29th, 2009

I saw (and posted) this story today from the Press Democrat:

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton won praise in June after pushing to extend to gay and lesbian partners many of the federal benefits traditionally provided to diplomats’ spouses.

Since then, unmarried heterosexual couples have been lining up to ask for benefits too. They have approached the State Department’s personnel office and the diplomats’ union, arguing that they are entitled to equal treatment.

and this comment by one of the right-wing candidates for Governor in Iowa:

“They should have seen this coming,” said Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, who had opposed extending benefits to gay people. “It’s a Pandora’s box.”

And it got me thinking – who is really weakening “traditional marriage” here?  I mean, think about it – if gays and lesbians had just been allwoed to marry, like everyone else, a) there would be many more married couples in this country, and b) there would be no “marriage light” category for straight people to ask to join, putting off being actually married.

This has happened elsewhere too – in France, straight couples who do not want to get married are asking to be allowed to have a civil union instead.

In effect, by forcing gays and lesbians into civil unions, benefit plans, and domestic partnerships, conservatives have opened the floodgates for their straight bretheren to skip marriage for any one of these “marriage lite” options.

And it gets better – in Texas, where voters went all the way and banned gay marriage outright without a “light” substitute, it appears they may have accidentally banned marriage altogether.

So who, really, is damaging the institution of marriage – the gay and lesbian couples who want to join it, or the right wingers who will go to almost any length to “defend” it?




Posted in civil unions, domestic partnerships, federal benefits, Gay Marriage, traditional marriage | No Responses »

WA: Seattle Lawmaker to Introduce Public Record Bill for Referendum Signatures

Monday, December 7th, 2009

A Democratic state lawmaker from Seattle plans to pre-file a bill Monday for the 2010 legislative session that would clarify that signatures, names and addresses of people who sign initiatives and referendums are part of the public record. The issue of releasing names of people who sign referendums and initiatives surfaced earlier this year in the fight over the new “everything but marriage” law that expands rights for gay domestic partners in Washington state.

“I’m not sure how our state action might impact things,” Rep. Reuven Carlyle said in an e-mail. “But I feel it’s a vital piece of democracy to take a stand in favor of openness, transparency and access. One would assume a state Legislature’s view on an issue holds some consideration for the courts.”

Conservative groups circulated petitions to get a measure on last month’s ballot that attempted to block the new law. However the state’s voters upheld the new law through Referendum 71.

Full Story from Seattle PI: http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/archives/187330.asp?from=blog_last3

Click here for gay marriage resources in Washington State.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

Posted in bill, domestic partnerships, Gay Marriage, public record, referendum, signatures, wa, washington state | No Responses »

AP Calls Referendum 71 in Washington for Domestic Partnership Supporters

Friday, November 6th, 2009

Washington voters have approved the state’s new “everything but marriage” law, expanding rights for domestic partners and marking the first time any state’s voters have approved a gay equality measure at the ballot box.

With about 72 percent of the expected vote counted Thursday in unofficial returns, Referendum 71 was leading 52 percent to 48 percent, with a margin of about 60,000 votes.

Sen. Ed Murray, a Seattle Democrat who spearheaded the law, called it “a great step forward for equality in Washington state.”

Full Story from AP: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hlGpneLaOG2koLv6cpbAJoCwS6jQD9BPNSL00

Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resource in Washington State.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

Posted in domestic partnerships, Gay Marriage, r71, referendum 71, wa, washington state | No Responses »

Washington State May Have Approved Domestic Partnership Bill by Narrow Margin

Wednesday, November 4th, 2009

Early figures from Washington state suggest that voters have opted to approve a new ‘everything but marriage’ measure for gay couples.

As yet, fewer than half of the votes have been counted and current support levels are at 52 per cent.

All but one of Washington’s counties vote by post, meaning that a final result may not be available until the end of the week.

Full Story from Pink News: http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/11/04/early-numbers-suggest-washington-voters-approve-expanded-gay-rights/

Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

Posted in domestic partnerships, r71, referendum 71, washington state | No Responses »

Tacoma Endorses R71, Domestic Partnerships

Thursday, October 29th, 2009

Tacoma City Council has weighed in on a hot-button measure on the state ballot this year, one putting rights for domestic partners up for a public vote. On Oct. 20 eight members voted for a resolution endorsing approval of Referendum 71, with Councilmember Mike Lonergan abstaining.

During the 2009 session the legislature passed a bill giving domestic partners many of the rights enjoyed by married couples. It applies to same-sex and senior citizen heterosexual couples.

Opponents of the legislation gathered enough signatures to put the matter before voters for the final decision. A vote to approve Referendum 71 keeps the state law; a vote to reject will overturn it.

Full Story from Tacoma Weekly: http://www.tacomaweekly.com/article/3690

Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources in Washington State.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

Posted in city council, domestic partnerships, ensorses, r71, referendum 71, supports, tacoma | No Responses »

Referendum 71 Ahead 57% to 38% Among Washington's Likely Voters

Wednesday, October 28th, 2009

The yearly Washington Poll shows the statewide Referendum 71 for gay couples’ rights passing one week before the Nov. 3 election, while Tim Eyman’s tax-limiting Initiative 1033 is trailing.

The poll was conducted by a social research school at the University of Washington that has a track record of correctly forecasting election results. Its poll shows:

R-71 is winning by a 56 percent to 39 percent margin among registered voters. The edge was 57-38 among likely voters; likely voters were those who have sent in ballots already or said they voted in November 2007.

Full Story from the Olympian: http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/1016921.html

Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources in Washington State .

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

Posted in domestic partnerships, Gay Marriage, poll, r71, referendum 71, washington state | No Responses »

Starbucks Endorses R71, Domestic Partnerships in Washington State

Tuesday, October 27th, 2009

Starbucks added its name to the list of major Northwest employers who support referendum 71, which would uphold Washington law that extends marriage-like benefits to gay, lesbian and some senior couples.

Last month, Boeing, Nike, Microsoft, Puget Sound Energy, RealNetworks and Vulcan issued a joint statement in favor of the measure.

Last Tuesday, Starbucks said it endorses and supports the approval of Referendum 71 because “it is aligned with our business practices, providing domestic partner benefits, and one of our core values of treating people with respect and dignity.”

Full Story from the Seattle Times: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/coffeecity/2010140831_starbucks_endorses_referendum.html

Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources in Washington State.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

Posted in domestic partnerships, endorses, Gay Marriage, r71, referendum 71, starbucks, wahsington state | No Responses »

Update on the Referendum 71 Fight in Washington State

Monday, October 26th, 2009

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights in Washington state are facing a crucial vote. Voters are choosing whether to approve or reject SB 5688–a domestic partnership expansion bill passed earlier this year by the state legislature and signed into law by the governor in May.

The law would grant the rights of civil marriage in Washington state–like sharing health benefits and death benefits, and hospital visitation rights–to same-sex couples and heterosexual partners where at least one of the two people is over the age of 62, without calling it “marriage.” Everyone registered to vote in Washington state should vote to approve Referendum 71 and protect the rights of LGBT couples and seniors.

This “Everything but Marriage” law–as it is referred to by its supporters–is the culmination of a strategy of working toward marriage equality by first creating the domestic partnership category for same-sex couples, and then adding more and more rights until domestic partners have the same state-granted rights as married couples do, just without the name.

Full Story from SocialistWorker.org: http://socialistworker.org/2009/10/26/fight-for-referendum-71

Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources in Washington State.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

Posted in domestic partnerships, Gay Marriage, r71, referendum 71, wa, washington state | No Responses »

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