Governor Christine Gregoire is scheduled to sign the Domestic Partnership Expansion Bill [see Qnews summary] in Olympia tomorrow (Wednesday March 12th). The signing ceremony, which is open to the public, will take place in the State Reception Room, on the third floor of the Legislative Building.

Connie Watts, executive director of Equal Rights Washington called the bill "an incredible victory for Washingtonians."

She explained, "This bill will provide over 160 new rights and responsibilities for domestic partners in Washington State. It is an important step in our work towards full equality."

The bill passed in the Senate on a 29-20 vote, with three Republicans voting for it and six Democrats opposed.

The Senators who voted to approve the law were Senators Berkey, Brandland, Brown, Eide, Fairley, Franklin, Fraser, Haugen, Hobbs, Jacobsen, Kauffman, Keiser, Kilmer, King, Kline, Kohl-Welles, Marr, McAuliffe, McDermott, Murray, Oemig, Pflug, Prentice, Pridemore, Regala, Rockefeller, Spanel, Tom, and Weinstein.

ERW has urged constituents to send a handwritten letter to their Senator thanking him or her for the vote. Addresses can be found on the legislature's website. The state's Log Cabin Republican, a gay interest group in the party, have urged special thanks to members of their caucus who voted for the measure.

ERW's Watts thanked the group's supporters who sent thousands of letters and emails to the legislature in support of this bill.

"Families stepped out of their comfort zone to share their personal stories and testify in front of the House and Senate in support of this bill," Watts said, adding, "Thank you!"