SB 5688 is about fairness, not gay marriage

• Published April 23, 2009

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Same sex partners would gain rights equal to those granted married couples under a bill that has passed the Legislature on mostly party-line votes. It’s the right bill at the right time.

CHECK OUT THE BILL

To see Senate Bill 5688 to give same-sex couples equal rights under Washington law go to www.leg.wa.gov/legislature. There you will find the text of the bills, background information, a summary of committee testimony and how individual legislators voted.

Democrats pushed Senate Bill 5688 through the Senate on a vote of 30-18 and the House on a 62-35 vote. The bill awaits Gov. Chris Gregoire’s promised signature into law. “Our state is one that thrives on diversity,” Gregoire, a Democrat said. “We have to respect and protect all of the families that make up our communities.”

She’s right, but the battle may not end with the governor’s signature.

Sen. Dan Swecker, R-Rochester, attempted, but failed, to send the equal rights issue to voters this fall. While Swecker was unsuccessful, state residents still have the power of the ballot box. If 120,577 people sign a referendum by July 25, the Senate bill would go to a vote of the people in November.

Before jumping on that bandwagon, residents need to understand that this is not a gay marriage bill nor is it a measure giving gays so-called “special rights.” What it does is give same-sex partners and some heterosexual senior couples equal access to laws available to married couples.

Examples?

The Senate Bill gives same-sex couples:

• The right to use sick leave to care for a domestic partner.

• The right to wages and benefits when a domestic partner is injured, and to unpaid wages upon the death of a domestic partner. ¦ The right to unemployment and disability insurance benefits.

• The right to workers’ compensation coverage.

• Insurance rights, including rights under group policies, policy rights after the death of a domestic partner, conversion rights and continuing coverage rights.

• Rights related to adoption, child custody and child support.

• Business succession rights.

“This bill completes our work on domestic partnerships by making sure that we state clearly our intention to treat domestic partners in our state equally,” said Rep. Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, who sponsored the House version of the bill and is one of six gay lawmakers in the Legislature.

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