OLYMPIA, Wash. – Same-sex domestic partners would have all of the rights and benefits that Washington offers married couples under a measure passed by the state Senate. Full story here.The debate about same-sex marriage has been raging in America, with California's decision to amend their constitution coming as a big surprise to many residents of that so-called 'liberal' state.
I've always supported same-sex marriage - not because of any high-minded principles, but because I think same-sex couples should enjoy the same legal rights as married couples. The word 'marriage' is meaningless to me. It's the legal protection that makes this a valid issue.
Therefore, the lawmakers in Washington who've decided to extend legal rights to same-sex 'domestic partners' have accomplished everything that I wanted them to. I think it's a very fair compromise. The definition of 'marriage' is unaffected, while the issue of equality and human rights has been addressed satisfactorily.
If this principle was rolled out across the whole of the United States, perhaps this issue could be put to bed once and for all.
America is a nation in which 'all men' are created equal and have 'inalienable rights.' Those rights include the right to partner yourself with any consenting adult you choose, regardless of gender.
It's not merely a legal or religious issue. It's an issue central to everything that the American nation stands for. Washington state has recognized that and acted accordingly.
