Source: Everett Herald
Expanding privileges for same-sex couples is not a partisan issue but one of civil rights, says the newest member of the Legislature's unofficial gay caucus.
Rep. Marko Liias, D-Mukilteo, who was appointed to his position in January, is backing a bill working its way through the Legislature that would expand rights for domestic partners.
"It really shouldn't matter where you come from on a political spectrum; it's about making sure that everybody has an equal opportunity in our society to succeed. Rights and responsibilities of our families shouldn't be a political issue," Liias said.
The bill would provide financial security by extending domestic partners' rights and responsibilities in the legal areas of community property, probate and trust, guardianship and power of attorney, testimonial privilege, taxes, nursing homes and veterans benefits.
The legislation passed the House with a 62-32 vote earlier this month and is currently moving through the Senate.
It builds upon a law the state passed last year allowing domestic partners in Washington to register and provide them some basic benefits enjoyed by married couples, such as hospital visitation and the right to inherit when there is no will.
Liias' arrival in Olympia in January pushed the state to a new political milestone.
He is Washington's sixth openly gay legislator, the most in state history and more than every other state except New Hampshire, which has seven. California, Connecticut and Vermont each have five.
"It's not something that I thought about before I came here," said Liias, 26. "When I was appointed I was excited to get to work on the issues."
Liias joins Reps. Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle; Jim Moeller, D-Vancouver; Dave Upthegrove, D-Des Moines; and Sens. Ed Murray, D-Seattle; and Joe McDermott, D-Seattle.
Murray had been the lone openly gay legislator for years. He welcomed the state's new status.
"What I think it signifies for the state is that this is a fairly tolerant state and that voters are making decisions on people's character, and not their sexual orientation," he said.
Liias said his sexual preference wasn't widely known before his appointment to the legislature. He said that no issues arose while he served on the Mukilteo City Council that made it relevant to discussion.
In Olympia, as a legislator on the larger statewide political stage, it emerged publicly when he joined the other gay legislators in calling for expansion of domestic partnership rights and responsibilities.
On a personal level, he said it's nice there are other gay lawmakers with whom he can talk.
"Quite frankly that was comforting knowing there were others that I could seek out for advice and counsel," Liias said. "Being openly gay requires revealing a part of your private life. In our society we don't usually talk about our private lives."
While opponents claim that this year's domestic partnership bill is an incremental step to gay marriage, Liias disagrees.
"I think it's just a way to distract us from the specific issue we have this year. This bill is not about marriage. It's about financial security," he said.
While this particular bill doesn't talk about marriage, supporters have been very clear that marriage is their ultimate goal.
Rep. Mike Sells, D-Everett, supported the bill and said he would probably support gay marriage as well. Not all the Democrats backing domestic partnerships are not comfortable with the issue. Sen. Paull Shin, D-Edmonds, for example, supported the bill's companion in the Senate but said he would not support a bill recognizing gay marriage.
Rep. Dan Kristiansen, R-Snohomish, said he also thinks marriage must remain a union between a man and a woman. "It's moving more definitions of marriage into domestic partnerships, so what's the point? Personally, I see this as giving same-sex couples special rights."
Massachusetts is currently the only state to allow gay marriage, but Washington and eight other states and the District of Columbia offer some type of recognition for same-sex families.
The prime sponsor of the bill, Rep. Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, said pushing gay marriage through the Legislature is only a matter of time.
"When it does come up, we'll have a referendum challenge. And we can't move the bill until we are prepared to defend it at the ballot box. We are not quite there yet."
Full article: HeraldNet: Legislator backs domestic partner bill | Everett Herald
Political climate opens to gays | Everett Herald