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Monday July 23, 2007
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By Elizabeth O'Brien
OLYMPIA, July 23, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Today a new domestic partnership law goes into effect in Washington State. The law allows homosexual couples to enjoy many of the legal benefits and protections of heterosexual marriage.
The legislation gives homosexual couples hospital visitation rights, organ donation authorization, and inheritance in the absence of a will, the Associated Press (AP) reports. The stipulations include that both members must be above 18 years of age, unmarried and live together in a home.
The bill also extends to heterosexual couples as well if one member is 62-years or older. In order to obtain the status, which costs only $50 USD, couples must file an affidavit with the Washington Secretary of State's office.
Some supporters of the homosexual lifestyle complain that the domestic partnerships law gives homosexuals only a handful of the marriage benefits that heterosexual couples enjoy, the Seattle Times Reports. Many others are hailing this law as a stepping-stone towards the ultimate goal of legalizing homosexual "marriage".
"I'm disappointed and I don't think it should be happening," said Gary Randall, president of the Faith and Freedom Network, quoted in the Times. "I think it deteriorates society. Over time it takes away from what is the most important cornerstone of society, and that's marriage between a man and woman."
He continued, "We are working tirelessly to regroup and get set for the battle to come. Gay marriage is going to be at the forefront." Arguing that most Washington voters oppose homosexual "marriage", he continued, "I do not think they'll stand for it. I believe they will vote people out of office based on that issue."
At present, Massachusetts is the only state that allows same-sex "marriage" whereas a few other states recognize domestic partnerships. At the federal level neither same-sex "marriage" nor civil unions are recognized, the AP reports. If homosexuals reach the goal of allowing same-sex marriage, they will have access to over 1,000 rights, stated Josh Friedes of Equal Rights in Washington.
Last year in a 5 to 4 vote, the Washington State Supreme Court upheld the 1998 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) defining marriage as the union between one man and one woman alone. Challenged by homosexual activists in 2004, last year's reaffirmation of the Act was hailed as a victory for countless Washington residents who support the traditional definition of marriage (see http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2006/jul/06072601.html).
The domestic partnership' s law follows close on the heels of the federal "hate-crimes" bill that was approved by the US House of Representatives this May. The new bill does not include protection for religious freedom and adds "sexual orientation" to the former list of protected minority groups (see http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/may/07050405.html).
Similarly, last year in an extension of the Civil Rights Act, Washington State became the 17th State to explicitly outlaw public discrimination based on sexual orientation. Similar legislation introduced in other states and countries has ensured, not only that homosexuals legally become a protected class, but that even reasonable opposition to homosexual behavior can be labeled a "hate-crime" and silenced or punished. On top of this legislation, today's domestic partnership law marks another step in the slow strangulation of opposition to the homosexual lifestyle.
Read previous LifeSiteNews coverage:
Judge Legalizes Same-Sex "Marriage" for Washington State
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2004/aug/04080411.html
Washington State Supreme Court Upholds Homosexual "Marriage" Ban
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2006/jul/06072601.html
Democrats Refuse Religious Freedom Amendment to Hate Crimes Bill
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/apr/07042601.html
See the Boston Globe's additional coverage of the homosexual domestic rights:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/new_hampshire/articles/2007/07/22/a_look_at_the_new_domestic_partnership_law/
(c) Copyright: LifeSiteNews.com. Permission to republish is granted (with limitation*) but acknowledgement of source is *REQUIRED* (use LifeSiteNews.com).
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