Domestic Partnership -- Washington State
Last night the Washington State Senate passed a bill to expand domestic partnership rights from 23 to 197 of the 480 married couples have. This bill (The Domestic Partners Bill 2SHB 3014) already passed the House. Next step, Gregoire.
3 Republicans voted for this bill: Brandland, King, and Pflug.
6 Democrats voted against this bill: Hargrove (from Hoquiam), Hatfield, Kastama, Rasmussen, Sheldon, and Shin (from Lynwood and Edmonds).
In case that pisses off any of my friends who might be from Shin's District, here is his address for a nice letter saying you don't support his vote on this issue.
Senator Paull Shin
407 Legislative Building
PO Box 40421
Olympia, WA 98504-0421
(360) 786-7640
For more information on this issue to my Washington State friends, you can go here for a summary and complete copy of the bill, how to find your state legislator, and a roster of how everyone voted.
It's great that this bill passed, but this revealed where our legislators really stand on the issue of giving rights to same-sex couples and other domestic partnership situations. Now we need to doll out the kudos or the disapprovals. Make sure you contact the Senator from your own district, as they will at least take into consideration a personal letter from a constituent.
I've written a letter to Mike Hewitt and have included it below the cut for an example of a personal letter to a legislator.
The Hon. Mike Hewitt
314 Legislative Bldg.
PO Box 40416
Olympia, WA 98504-0416
Dear Senator Hewitt:
I am a constiuent writing in regards to your vote of nay on 2SHB 3104: Expanding rights and responsibilities for domestic partnerships.
I was born and grew up in Walla Walla, WA. I went to college here and am currently getting my Masters of Social Work degree at Walla Walla University. I plan to stay here because I love my community and I want to contribute to making it an even better place to live, work, and raise a family. I am also a gay woman who supports equal rights for all people regardless of sexual orientation. Loving whom I choose and having that love protected equally by my government are my rights as an American.
In the future, I hope that you, my legislator, will better support my freedoms and protections and support positive domestic partnership laws.
3 Republicans voted for this bill: Brandland, King, and Pflug.
6 Democrats voted against this bill: Hargrove (from Hoquiam), Hatfield, Kastama, Rasmussen, Sheldon, and Shin (from Lynwood and Edmonds).
In case that pisses off any of my friends who might be from Shin's District, here is his address for a nice letter saying you don't support his vote on this issue.
Senator Paull Shin
407 Legislative Building
PO Box 40421
Olympia, WA 98504-0421
(360) 786-7640
For more information on this issue to my Washington State friends, you can go here for a summary and complete copy of the bill, how to find your state legislator, and a roster of how everyone voted.
It's great that this bill passed, but this revealed where our legislators really stand on the issue of giving rights to same-sex couples and other domestic partnership situations. Now we need to doll out the kudos or the disapprovals. Make sure you contact the Senator from your own district, as they will at least take into consideration a personal letter from a constituent.
I've written a letter to Mike Hewitt and have included it below the cut for an example of a personal letter to a legislator.
The Hon. Mike Hewitt
314 Legislative Bldg.
PO Box 40416
Olympia, WA 98504-0416
Dear Senator Hewitt:
I am a constiuent writing in regards to your vote of nay on 2SHB 3104: Expanding rights and responsibilities for domestic partnerships.
I was born and grew up in Walla Walla, WA. I went to college here and am currently getting my Masters of Social Work degree at Walla Walla University. I plan to stay here because I love my community and I want to contribute to making it an even better place to live, work, and raise a family. I am also a gay woman who supports equal rights for all people regardless of sexual orientation. Loving whom I choose and having that love protected equally by my government are my rights as an American.
In the future, I hope that you, my legislator, will better support my freedoms and protections and support positive domestic partnership laws.