LGBT rights in Washington (state): Difference between revisions
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==Adoption== |
==Adoption== |
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Washington state law permits a legally competent adult to petition to adopt.<ref>HRC: [http://www.hrc.org/ |
Washington state law permits a legally competent adult to petition to adopt.<ref>HRC: [http://www.hrc.org/laws-and-legislation/entry/washington-adoption-law Washington Adoption Law]</ref> |
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==Federal Income Tax== |
==Federal Income Tax== |
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==Discrimination protection== |
==Discrimination protection== |
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Washington state law prohibits discrimination based on their sexual orientation and their gender identity or expression.<ref>Human Rights Campaign: [http://www.hrc.org/ |
Washington state law prohibits discrimination based on their sexual orientation and their gender identity or expression.<ref>Human Rights Campaign: [http://www.hrc.org/laws-and-legislation/entry/washington-non-discrimination-law1 Washington Non-Discrimination Law], accessed April 11, 2011</ref> |
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==Hate crime laws== |
==Hate crime laws== |
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Washington state law criminalizes "malicious harassment" and violence against individuals because of their sexual orientation and their gender identity or expression.<ref>Human Rights Campaign: [http://www.hrc.org/ |
Washington state law criminalizes "malicious harassment" and violence against individuals because of their sexual orientation and their gender identity or expression.<ref>Human Rights Campaign: [http://www.hrc.org/laws-and-legislation/entry/washington-hate-crimes-law Washington Hate Crimes Law], accessed April 11, 2011</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 14:41, 2 February 2012
LGBT rights in Washington | |
|---|---|
 Washington (US) | |
| Status | Legal since 1976 (Legislative repeal) |
| Gender identity | Yes |
| Discrimination protections | sexual orientation and gender identity or expression (see below) |
| Family rights | |
| Recognition of relationships | State Registered Domestic Partnerships performable and recognized in the state, civil unions and marriages performed in other jurisdictions equivalent to SRDP. |
| Restrictions | Legal recognition of same-sex marriage prohibited by statute |
| Adoption | Yes |
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons in the U.S. state of Washington face some legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Washington. Same-sex couples and families headed by same-sex couples are not eligible for all of the protections available to opposite-sex married couples.
Laws against homosexuality
Laws against consensual sodomy were repealed in June 1975.[1]
Recognition of same-sex marriage
Since 1998, a Washington state statute called the Defence of Marriage Act bans same sex marriage.[citation needed] Washington state is the only state on the west coast not to have a Constitutional amendment defining marriage.[citation needed]
Since 2001, Washington state has provided benefits to sames-sex partners of state employees.[2]
Since the 2007 case Andersen v. King County, Washington state has recognized its own state-registered domestic partnerships, which are considered equivalent to domestic partnerships, civil unions, and marriages for same-sex couples in other jurisdictions. It has also recognized same-sex civil unions and domestic partnership established in other jurisdictions since then.[citation needed]
Since 2011, Washington state recognizes same-sex marriages performed elsewhere as the equivalent of its own domestic partnerships.[3]
Adoption
Washington state law permits a legally competent adult to petition to adopt.[4]
Federal Income Tax
The Internal Revenue Service ruled in May 2010 that its rules governing communal property income for married couples extend to couples who file taxes in a community property state that recognizes domestic partnerships or same-sex marriages. Couples with registered domestic partnerships in Washington, a community property state, must first combine their annual income and then each must claim half that amount as his or her income for federal tax purposes.[5]
Discrimination protection
Washington state law prohibits discrimination based on their sexual orientation and their gender identity or expression.[6]
Hate crime laws
Washington state law criminalizes "malicious harassment" and violence against individuals because of their sexual orientation and their gender identity or expression.[7]
References
- ^ William N. Eskridge, Dishonorable Passions: Sodomy Laws in America, 1861-2003 (NY: Penguin Group, 2008), 201n, available online, accessed April 10, 2011
- ^ National Conference of State Legislatures: "States offering benefits for same-sex partners of state employees", accessed April 16, 2011
- ^ Seattle Times: Molly Rosbach, "Washington domestic partnership law gets adjusted," April 5, 2011, accessed April 6, 2011
- ^ HRC: Washington Adoption Law
- ^ New York Times: Tara Siegel Bernard, "Tax Season Gets Trickier for Some Gay Couples," March 29, 2011, accessed April 5, 2011
- ^ Human Rights Campaign: Washington Non-Discrimination Law, accessed April 11, 2011
- ^ Human Rights Campaign: Washington Hate Crimes Law, accessed April 11, 2011
