Putting the “gay” back in marriage?

Photo: Lapham's Quarterly

Marriage equality was a topic of both House Speaker Frank Chopp’s opening day speech and Governor Gregoire’s State of the State address this week.

In this article from Lapham’s Quarterly, a philosophy professor suggests that same-sex marriage could revitalize matrimony, which has changed dramatically over the centuries and has taken its lumps in recent decades: The institution could be revived as a happy state – rather than, as the therapists say, something you have to work at.

To read this story in Spanish, click here.

2012 Legislative Session is open

Speaker Frank Chopp gaveled the session to order at noon today, laying out the House Democratic Caucus agenda for the upcoming year:

• Create jobs now

• Fund basic education

• Save the safety net

• Ensure equality

• Provide opportunity

You can ready his opening comments here.

To read this story in Spanish, click here.

Standing room only at Domestic Partnership hearing

Hundreds of people crowded into House Hearing Room A this morning to attend the Judiciary Committee’s public hearing on legislation that would broaden domestic-partnership rights. Even after opening a back wall and letting other people view the hearing on TV in another room, the scene remained standing-room only. More than 40 people registered to testify, with both supporters and opponents stating their positions for well over an hour. Despite occasionally heated rhetoric and swells of applause at times, the dialog remained civil and calm.

Built upon two years of successive legislation starting in 2007, HB 1727 would ensure that registered domestic partners receive equal treatment under state law as would a married couple. Bill sponsor Rep. Jamie Pedersen (Seattle), kicked off the testimony by outlining how it would help families, especially in the areas of public employee pension and survivorship benefits. He also noted how nearly 5, 000 domestic partners across all legislative districts have registered since 2007.

The debate continues later today in the Senate, where the Government Operations & Elections Committee will hear companion bill 5688, sponsored by Sen. Ed Murray (D-Seattle), at 3:30 p.m. in Senate Hearing Room 2. Read more about this year’s domestic partnership legislation in this press release from last week. Or see what editorial boards across the state are saying here, here, and here.

One step closer to equality for all

House and Senate Democrats today unveiled plans for broadening domestic-partnership rights. At a noon press conference, bill sponsors Sen. Ed Murray (D-Seattle) and Rep. Jamie Pedersen (D-Seattle) introduced this year’s legislation, which builds on two previous years of legislation in 2007 and 2008.

At a press conference on the Capitol Campus, the legislators outlined how their bills would close the remaining equality gaps in state law for domestic partners. If enacted, the legislation would ensure that registered domestic partners receive all of the state law rights and responsibilities of married spouses.

Pedersen says, “This year’s legislation will finish the important work we started in 2007 to ensure that all committed couples in this state are afforded the same rights and responsibilities.”

Next up? Hearings on the bills. Pedersen’s bill will be heard by the Judiciary Committee, likely next week.

Read more about HB 1727 and SB 5688, or read the press release.