Senate Bill 5688: Expanded Rights and Benefits of Same-Sex Partners

Author:
Senators Murray, McDermott, Kohl-Welles, Fairley, Hobbs, Ranker, Pridemore, Kauffman, Kline, Keiser, Regala, Fraser, Prentice, Oemig, Franklin, McAuliffe, Jarrett, Brown, Kilmer, Tom

Summary:
In 2009 there were two bills in the Washington legislature that provided same-sex couples all of the same benefits and rights reserved for married men and women. Senate Bill 5688 was passed by both houses and delivered to the governor for signing.

Both bills stated that “[i]t is the intent of the legislature that for all purposes under state law, state registered domestic partners shall be treated the same as married spouses.” The effect of these bills will establish domestic partnerships as the same as marriage.

Why is HSLDA opposed to these bills? 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.

Two years ago we stated that the domestic partnership law was the first step in recognizing same-sex relationships as marriage in Washington. These bills will do just that.

Status:

1/28/2009		(Senate) Referred to Government Operations and Elections Committee
2/12/2009		(Senate) Executive taken by the Government Operations and Elections Committee
4/23/2009		(Senate) Delivered to the governor

HSLDA's Position:
HSLDA opposed to S.B. 5688.

Action Requested:
No action is needed at this time.

Background:
Same-sex marriage attacks the traditions of the family in western civilization. This is an attack on parental rights. This is a battle the homeschooling movement cannot afford to lose.

H.B. 1727 and S.B. 5688 inserts into every statute relating to marriage the statement that “the terms spouse, marriage, marital, husband, wife, widow, widower, next of kin, and family shall be interpreted as applying equally to state registered domestic partnerships or individuals in state registered domestic partnerships as well as to marital relationships and married persons….” Additionally, these bills state “[w]here necessary to implement this act, gender-specific terms such as husband and wife used in any statute, rule, or other law shall be construed to be gender neutral, and applicable to individuals in state registered domestic partnerships.”

Other Resources

E-lert—2/13/2009—Washington: Your Voice Crucial in Preserving Traditional Family!

Bill Text   (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)