Senate passes domestic partnerships bill

Good news today after yesterday's disappointing vote on the simple majority for schools proposal - the State Senate, by a vote of 28-19, has passed a bill to allow more couples the same rights that heterosexual couples enjoy:

[It] would give gays, lesbians, and unmarried heterosexuals age 62 and older the right to visit a partner in the hospital, inherit their property without a will and make funeral arrangements, among other things.

Couples wanting domestic partnership status must share a residence, be at least 18 years old, not be married to another person or in a domestic partnership with anyone else, be capable of consenting to the relationship, not be blood relations, be either members of the same sex, or if in a heterosexual partnership, have one person be at least 62 years old.

SB 5336 is expected to easily pass the state House. Governor Christine Gregoire says she supports the bill and will sign it when it makes it to her desk.