Pacific Views

You Marry 'Em, We'll Recognize 'Em

While Washington state is explicitly forbidden through a DOMA style law from issuing same sex marriage licenses, the City of Seattly will now recognize licenses granted in other states. City officials have come out in support of same sex marriage, and have expressed regret that the law clearly prohibits them from issuing licenses to gay couples.

Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels on Monday ordered the city government to recognize gay marriages performed in other states, even though Washington state law clearly prohibits same-sex marriage.

"Spouses of city employees in same-sex marriages will enjoy all of the health and insurance benefits that all opposite sex partners enjoy," Nickels said at a news conference.

...Same-sex couples in Seattle have already had equal rights to domestic partnership benefits for the past five years, but an application required extensive paperwork.

A proposed ordinance is also being presented to Seattle's city council to require businesses that contract with the city to extend equal rights to homosexual married couples.

Good for us. I was wondering when Seattle would get into the act.