What a difference a year makes. Last year, Washington's Supreme Court upheld a ban on gay marriage, but now lawmakers have successfully passed a partnership bill.

The bill breezed through The Evergreen State's House 65-35 and passed the Senate last month. Once Governor Chris Gregoire offers his John Hancock, gays and lesbians will be able to enjoy many of the same rights as their straight counterparts. Journo Chris McGann offers the legislative details:

Senate Bill 5336 creates a domestic partnership registry with the state and provides enhanced rights for same-sex couples, including hospital visitation, the ability to authorize autopsies and organ donations, and inheritance rights when there is no will.

Couples would have to share a home, not be married or in a domestic relationship with someone else and be at least 18.

Similar to California law, unmarried heterosexual couples would also be eligible for domestic partnerships if one partner were at least 62.

Conservative opponents argued the bill will dilute traditional marriage, but proponents insists this isn't the case. Democratic Representative Jamie Pedersen explained:

It's not marriage There are more than 400 state law rights or obligations that don't come with domestic partnership, and we are going to have our hands full trying to get those rights and protections, too.

Don't worry, straights, you'll always have the upper hand. Well, for the foreseeable future, at least...

Gay rights bill for couples passed [Seattle Post-Intelligencer]