Beautiful news to start your day from the West Coast. The Washington legislature has voted to recognize valid out-of-state same-sex marriages and same-sex unions from all jurisdictions, reports the Associated Press.
On a 28-19 vote, the Senate cleared the last hurdle for the bill. Under the measure, gay marriages performed elsewhere would be recognized as domestic partnerships here, as well as domestic partnerships performed in other states.
Currently, five states, the District of Columbia and Canada allow same-sex marriages. Washington becomes the fourth state to approve a similar bill, following Rhode Island, New York and Maryland. The measure enjoyed wide support among Democrats. It passed the House 58-39, mostly on party-line votes.
A slight clarification: Maryland and New York recognize valid out-of-state same-sex marriages ... but as marriages. New York's law is a directive implemented by former Gov. David Paterson, Maryland's law is an opinion delivered by AG Douglas Gansler.
The bill now goes to the desk of Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire, who has promised to sign it.
The New York State Court of Appeals also enforced parental rights based on a Vermont civil union in the case called Debra H. v. Janice R., 14 N.Y.3d 576, 930 N.E.2d 184(2010), which arguably has more force of law than Gov. Patterson's executive order.
Posted by: Jim J | 31 March 2011 at 12:31