Under a proposed same-sex-marriage law in Washington state, most gay couples now registered as domestic partners would have two years to convert the relationship to marriage — or the state would do it for them.
The law would allow unmarried gay couples from out of state to marry here, and would grant marriage benefits to those in civil unions and domestic partnerships who relocate here — as long as they then marry within a year.
Churches, mosques, temples, synagogues and their clergy may refuse to marry gays, without penalty, just as they're allowed to now. But there are no comparable exemptions for business owners — such as wedding planners, photographers or florists — who are religiously opposed to such unions.
Advocates and opponents of same-sex marriage are picking through the language of SB 6239 and its companion, HB 2516, as they move through the Legislature on an almost certain path to becoming law.
The Washington law wouldn't be much different from those passed in six states and the District of Columbia allowing gay marriage — and it wouldn't significantly change the way gay couples now live.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017372664_marriage30m.html
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