Same-sex marriage (SSM) & domestic partnerships
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Activity in Washington State

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Brief summary:
In 2004, two lawsuits were launched by a total of 17 same-sex couples to legalize same-sex marriage (SSM) via the courts. They were unsuccessful.
In 2007, a domestic partnership bill was passed that allowed same-sex couples to register their relationship and receive a limited number of benefits and protections for themselves and their children. During subsequent years, additional benefits and protections were added.
In 2009, an "everything but marriage" bill was passed giving domestic partnerships all of the state rights of marriage except what is ovten considered the most important right: to be able to call their relationship a marriage.
In 2012, the legislature passed a same-sex marriage bill, and the governor signed it into law. Religious and social conservatives mounted a referendum for election day in 2012-NOV in an attempt to repeal the law.
On election day, 2012-NOV-06, the referendum was defeated. Washington's mail-in voting system will delay the final vote probably until the end of the week of NOV-04. However, early results indicated a narrow win for SSM similar to those in Maine and Maryland which took place on the same day.
A more detailed timeline is available.

Topics covered in this section:

References used:
The following information source was used to prepare and update the above
essay. The hyperlink is not necessarily still active today.
- Joni Balter, "Ballot measures hovering around 50 percent — way too close to call," Seattle Times, 2012-SEP-17, at: http://blogs.seattletimes.com/
- "Gay marriage, marijuana well ahead in poll," Seattle PI, 2012-OCT-05, at: http://blog.seattlepi.com/
- "Wash. gay marriage law to be decided by voters," NECM.com, 2012-OCT-13, at: http://www.necn.com/

Copyright © 2004 to 2012 by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance
Originally written: 2004-SEP-12
Latest update: 2012-DEC-07
Author: B.A. Robinson

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