WA: Rep. Jamie Pedersen introduces marriage recognition bill (and Divorce Issues)
- by: Gray Coyote
Sun Jan 03, 2010 www.pamshouseblend.com
(Smoothing down the rough seams of the relationship recognition patchwork quilt. Here is the bill text, a very simple affair:
A legal union of two persons of the same sex((, other than a marriage,)) that was validly formed in another jurisdiction, and that is substantially equivalent to a domestic partnership under this chapter, shall be recognized as a valid domestic partnership in this state and shall be treated the same as a domestic partnership registered in this state regardless of whether it bears the name domestic partnership.
- promoted by Lurleen)
A new bill was pre-filed before the short 60 day session which starts in the middle of the month. Rep. Jamie Pedersen (D-43), a member of the LGBT caucus, introduced HB2482.
HB2482 as introduced
As I pointed out in a previous post, Washington State recognizes all “similar” domestic partnerships and civil unions from other states.
But those who chose to get married in other states such as in California pre-Prop 8, in Canada (which is a border country to Washington), and any of the other states which now recognize marriage equality, they still have to pay the $50 to get a domestic partnership here in Washington State.
Rep. Pedersen’s bill would rectify that situation. I am also asking him to amend his bill to fix another potential problem in an open letter to him.
Dear Rep. Pedersen,
I wanted to thank you for introducing a small fix to the bill to the current domestic partnership law, allowing for recognition of out of state marriages to be a considered an SRDP.
I do, however, see a potential problem with this, and in fact there has been issues in other states, especially in New Jersey.
New Jersey Finally Allows Dissolution for Marriage.
There should be more clear language allowing specifically for dissolution of marriage for out of state same gendered couples. If the out of state couples who are married decides to dissolve their marriage, it would a dissolution of an SRDP, and not recognized by other states that recognize full marriage equality. Patchwork quilts are difficult to deal with.
I ask that you push for amending this bill to fix this problem. It may seem a little smarmy to only recognize same sex marriage for the purposes of divorce, but in terms of relationship dissolution, same gender couples going through this deserve to have bonds legally cut completely without question.
Regards,
Gray
As much as there is a perception of political pressure for gay couples not to annul or divorce, it is going to happen. It even happened to the lead plaintiffs in the landmark Massachusetts ruling on the issue of marriage equality.
The fact is, divorce allows for the peaceful dissolution of a relationship, property, rather than the typical “rip out the rug from under someone” which I’ve seen occur in long term unmarried/un-partnered relationships.
