Washington Senate
Passes DP Expansion Bill

Washington State domestic partners are being granted more than 160 more rights and responsibilities as the senate voted 29-20 to pass an expansion bill for domestic-partner laws. Gov. Chris Gregoire is expected to sign the bill into law, according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

The legislature voted to expand upon the law, created in 2007, that enacted a domestic-partner registry, providing rights and responsibilities to gay couples and heterosexual couples with one partner older than age 62.

A February poll showed that 55% of Washington voters supported extending more domestic-partnership rights for gay couples, according to the article.

The bill drew criticism from religious groups, including the Catholic Church, which testified against the legislation in committee.

Josh Friedes, advocacy director for Equal Rights Washington, told the newspaper that the legislature's vote is a good indicator that people's attitudes toward rights for gays and lesbians is changing though they're not quite ready for full-on marriage. (The Advocate)