Mormons, Catholics & Protestants Seek to Take Away Partnership Rights in Washington

Although the bill will probably not be signed into law by the governor for a couple of weeks, a network of Mormon, Catholic and Protestant organizations is gearing up to collect signatures for a ballot initiative to revoke the domestic partnership rights of gay and lesbian couples. The Seattle Times reports that not all major religious right players have jumped on board because they are more concerned about the economy.

The bill, which gives domestic partners all of the rights of marriage — except the name — was passed last month by Washington state lawmakers under Senate Bill 5688.

Referendum 71 was filed by Larry Stickney, president of the Washington Values Alliance, seeks to reverse the legislation. Supporters need to get more than 120,500 valid voter signatures by July 25 in order to qualify for the November ballot.

According to the Seattle Times,

The bill expands on previous Washington state domestic partnership laws by adding such partnerships to all remaining areas of state law where currently only married couples are mentioned. The statutes range from labor and employment rights to pensions and other public employee benefits.

The underlying domestic partnership law, which Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, spearheaded two years ago, provided hospital visitation rights, the ability to authorize autopsies and organ donations, and inheritance rights when there is no will.

Last year, lawmakers expanded that law to give domestic partners standing under laws covering probate and trusts, community property and guardianship.

There are reportedly slightly over 5300 domestic partnerships registered in the state. The values group would like to see all of these people lose their rights because they are afraid that the legislation will eventually lead to a court case that will grant gay marriage.

Related Interest: The Massachusetts Experience

Related Interest: The Religious Coalition for the Freedom to Marry

Sphere: Related Content

Related posts:

1. Conservatives Divided Over Efforts to Stop Domestic Partner Rights
2. 1st Amendment Rights of Gay-Friendly Churches Smashed by Mormons, Catholics, Baptists and Others: Faith Based Organizations File Amicus Brief in Prop 8 Case
3. Religious Group Says That Allowing Domestic Partners to Make Important Decisions is Discriminatory
4. Religious News Verses: Partnerships, Crucifixes and Sex Tapes
5. Washington D.C. Recognizes Same Sex Marriages
6. The Popular Vote Results for Marriage, Domestic Partnerships and Human Rights
7. Theocracy Watch: Mormon Claims Religion Should Trump Civil Rights
8. Fundamentalist Mormons in Canada Want Polygamy Rights
9. More on Ex-Gay Therapy and Wisconsin Domestic Partnerships
10. Catholic Church Threatens to Yank Charities if Gays Given Rights

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