The AP Press via The Seattle Times:
Washington state would offer same-sex couples all the rights and benefits given to heterosexual married couples under a measure that was introduced Tuesday in the Legislature.
Really? Everything including those granted by the federal government such as taxes and social security? I don’t think so.
But openly gay State Rep. Jamie Pedersen explained:
“Although we view this as an improvement that provides real and concrete protections to same-sex partners, it’s an inadequate substitute for marriage,” Pedersen said. “Our hope is that the continuing success of this legislation helps people understand what marriage is, and that it gets them more comfortable with treating all families with equality dignity and respect.”
Nearly 5,000 couples have registered for Demoestic Partnerships since July 2007 when the original law took effect. I really should be very happy by this development but cannot help but feel disappointed after what shook down in California via the courts just before the passage of Prop 8.
One thing we all know for sure is that history will not look back fondly on people like Bothell pastor Joseph Fuiten of Positive Christian Agenda quoted in the article, which is a group opposed to same-sex marriage. Their legacy will not be a favorable one as we have seen time and time again throughout history.
Then why not just pass marriage equality and force it to the US Supreme Court? Obama’s already promised to repeal DOMA, there’s a Democratic majority in both houses of Congress, there’s a possible March on Washington being planned. As the Prop 8 shows us, we need to be active, not passive, to make this happen.
Sure – good socialist analysis – push it to the US Supreme court while the conservative have a majority
Majority in the US Senate does not mean shit – rules allow all sorts of blocking without 60 votes
Great step forward, marriage equality is 20 years away – face it – generational
Anonymous, are you familiar with history? Why do you lazy ass critics ignore the part that human beings play in history? Are you aware that Roe v. Wade was passed by a conservative Supreme Court under a conservative President? Did you know that more liberal reforms were passed under conservative Nixon than under “liberal” Bill Clinton? Why? BECAUSE PEOPLE (perhaps not you) GOT OFF THEIR ASSES AND MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO IGNORE THEIR DEMANDS. You may be content with just sitting on your ass, having a cocktail, hoping some rich politicians grants your wishes some day, but for the millions of lgbt people facing the worst economic crisis since the Depression, every little bit we win on the way to full lgbt liberation really counts. Your pessimism is nothing more than a reflection of the reality that for 30 years the Democrats have USED us for votes and given nothing in return except piecemeal legislation that covers some of us only in certain places and certain times. You may choose to sit and wait for freedom to fall from the sky, but I promise you that when 10,000 lgbt people and their supporters show up to a protest for gay rights on one week’s notice, it’s time to throw all your old ideas out the window.
And besides… do you know who’s responsible for having a Supreme Court? How about every Democrats who failed to filibuster a vote on either Roberts or Alito? Did you know Murray voted to confirm Roberts? The same politicians you’re arguing should be the ones to “give us” our rights are the same politicians who more consistently act to take away our rights. Resolve that contradiction in your thinking, please.