Same-sex partners: a question of fairness

STATE lawmakers are considering a bill that would move same-sex domestic partners closer to receiving the same rights and benefits as married couples. Legislators should proceed with the changes — without much fuss.

This editorial page supports gay marriage as a matter of fairness and equality, but that is not the issue at hand. The new legislation would implement hundreds of refinements to laws concerning public-employee pensions and survivor benefits, inheritance procedures and family legal rights.

The Legislature already granted same-sex domestic-partner rights in probate, trusts, community property and homestead exemptions, as well as guardianship and powers of attorney.

An earlier bill led by state Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, provides hospital-visitation rights, the ability to authorize autopsies and organ donations, and inheritance rights in cases without a will.

New provisions are small — in some cases, obscure — compared with all that has been accomplished. Step by step, our state is granting domestic partners benefits most people would not think about until denied those benefits.

Republicans worry the legislation is tantamount to gay marriage and cite fiscal implications as an additional concern. The bill delays the most-expensive provision on public pensions until 2012.

The fight over gay marriage will sort itself out over time. The next generation is more prepared than the current one to favor full rights.

Murray is operating on the wise belief that it is better to make gradual change than to launch a cultural war over marriage.

The pages and pages of word changes won't make much difference to heterosexuals but they provide appropriate respect and benefits to same-sex partners. This, too, is a matter of fairness and equality.