‘Same-Sex Marriage’ Bill

Author:
Senators Ed Murray, Jeanne Kohl-Welles, Darlene Fairley, Margarita Prentice, Debbie Regala, Eric Oemig, Rodney Tom, Adam Kline, Steve Hobbs, Craig Pridemore, Karen Keiser, Jean Berkey, Rosa Franklin, Lisa Brown, Brian Weinstein, Phil Rockefeller, Eric Poulsen, Karen Fraser, Ken Jacobsen, Harriet Spanel, Rosemary McAuliffe

Summary:
There is a bill currently in the House that would provide same-sex couples many of the same benefits and rights reserved for married men and women. This bill has already passed the Senate and will be debated soon in the House. Your calls are vital to let your elected representative know where you stand and help stop a bill some believe will become law.

Senate Bill 5336 would create “domestic partnerships” for same-sex couples and men and women over the age for 62 who do not want to get married. The bill would grant the same rights of a spouse to same-sex couples in health care, employee benefits, probate (wills), death and burial.

While the bill defines this relationship as a “domestic partnership,” its purpose is to recognize same-sex relationships as equal to a marriage in above mentioned areas. If this bill passes, “domestic partner” will be the same as a “husband” or “wife” and will be defined as a “family” in these respective areas.

Even more troubling is that Senate Bill 5336 also implies that the goal is full same-sex marriage with all benefits and privileges. In this bill a domestic partnership is automatically terminated when same-sex marriage becomes valid in Washington.

Why is Home School Legal Defense Association opposed to this bill? Our freedom to educate our children is based upon “Western civilization concepts of the family as a unit with broad parental authority over minor children.” Same-sex marriage or domestic partnerships attack the traditions of the family in Western civilization upon which the foundation of parental choice in education and basic parental rights are based upon.

Senate Bill 5336 is the first step in recognizing same-sex relationships as marriage in Washington. Please call now to help preserve the traditional family and help defeat this legislation. While this issue has been highly polarized, if you speak with conviction in a kind and loving manner you will be the most effective advocate.

Status:

1/25/2007		Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Government Operations & Elections
3/5/2007		First reading in the House
4/20/2007		Governor signed.

HSLDA's Position:
HSLDA is opposed to this bill

Action Requested:
No further action needed at this time

Other Resources

Bill Text   (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)

Bill History