Washington State came one step closer to equality yesterday.

Governor Chris Gregoire signed the recently expanded domestic partnership bill into law. Said Gregoire: "This bill is about protecting and helping Washington families. It simply gives these families the same rights as everybody else. It's the right thing to do." Well, that's not entirely true. Sure, the new DP's give gays 170 new rights, but come nowhere near marriage.

The bill's sponsor, Representative Jamie Pedersen realizes there's still more ground to cover: Domestic partners still lack the vast majority of the protections that married couples take for granted in Washington state. This law, Pedersen says, is the "next step in addressing that injustice."

DP for everyone! Washington State's Senators voted 29-20 yesterday to expand domestic partnership rights. The vote will now go to Governor Chris Gregoire, who will likely sign it into law.

The Legislature passed a measure Tuesday to expand the state's domestic partnership law, granting same-sex couples more than 170 of the benefits and responsibilities given to married couples, including property and guardianship rights.

The measure adds domestic partners to sections of laws where previously only spouses were mentioned, including areas referring to probate and trusts, community property and homestead exemptions, and guardianship and powers of attorney.

The underlying domestic partnership law, passed last year, already provides hospital visitation rights, the ability to authorize autopsies and organ donations and inheritance rights when there is no will.

Ain't love grand?!