Archive Version of
Partners Task Force for Gay and Lesbian Couples
Online from 1995-2022

Demian and Steve Bryant originally founded Partners as a monthly newsletter in 1986. By late 1990 it was reformatted into a bi-monthly magazine. Print publication was halted by 1995 when Demian published Partners as a Web site, which greatly expanded readership.

In 1988, the Partners National Survey of Lesbian & Gay Couples report was published; the first major U.S. survey on same-sex couples in a decade.

In 1996, Demian produced The Right to Marry, a video documentary based on the dire need for equality that was made clear by the data from the survey mentioned above. The video featured interviews with Rev. Mel White, Evan Wolfson, Phyllis Burke, Richard Mohr, Kevin Cathcart, Faygele benMiriam, Benjamin Cable-McCarthy, Susan Reardon, Frances Fuchs, Tina Podlodowski, and Chelle Mileur.

Demian has been the sole operator during the last two decades of Partners.

Demian stopped work on Partners Task Force in order to realize his other time-consuming projects, which include publishing the book “Operating Manual for Same-Sex Couples: Navigating the rules, rites & rights” - which is now available on Amazon. The book is based on the Partners Survey mentioned above, his interviews of scores of couples, and 36 years of writing hundreds of articles about same-sex couples. It’s also been informed by his personal experience in a 20-year, same-sex relationship.

Demian’s other project is to publish his “Photo Stories by Demian” books based on his more than six decades as a photographer and writer.


Partners Task Force for Gay & Lesbian Couples
Demian, director    206-935-1206    demian@buddybuddy.com    Seattle, WA    Founded 1986

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What Rights Come with Legal Marriage?
— Washington —
© 2003, Demian


This is a partial list of the legal marriage laws in the State of Washington. These 200 rights and responsibilities — out of at least 360 laws that are triggered by legal marriage — show the variety of societal and business interactions built into legal marriage. This list provides a glimpse of what is at stake by the denial of access to legal marriage.

While all states generally cover similar legal areas, there are state-by-state differences. Besides the state laws, the U.S. Federal system also has more than 1,138 laws which are triggered by legal marriage. [See U.S. Federal Laws for the Legally Married.]

Almost all states offer some form of the following marital rights:

  • to not be forced to testify in court against each other;
  • ability to make medical decisions on each other’s behalf;
  • to seek wrongful death compensation;
  • access to a decedent’s estate in the absence of a will;
  • to maintain life and disability insurance on a spouse;
  • eligibility for worker’s compensation death benefits; and
  • to automatically hold property as tenants in common.

This Washington State Domestic Relations Law list is copied from the Revised Code of Washington located at the state’s official Internet site. You may search for relevant laws from this site:
search.leg.wa.gov/pub/textsearch/default.asp.
TITLE 26 RCW -- DOMESTIC RELATIONS

Chapters
26.04       Marriage.
26.09       Dissolution of marriage -- Legal separation.
26.10       Nonparental actions for child custody.
26.12       Family court.
26.16       Husband and wife--Rights and liabilities--Community property.
26.18       Child support enforcement.
26.19       Child support schedule.
26.20       Family abandonment or nonsupport.
26.21       Uniform interstate family support act.
26.23       State support registry.
26.26       Uniform parentage act.
26.27       Uniform child custody jurisdiction act.
26.28       Age of majority.
26.30       Uniform minor student capacity to borrow act.
26.33       Adoption.
26.34       Interstate compact on placement of children.
26.40       Handicapped children.
26.44       Abuse of children and adult dependent persons.
26.50       Domestic violence prevention.

NOTES:
Action against parent for willful injury to property by minor child:
   RCW 4.24.190.
Action by parent for sale or transfer of controlled substance to
   minor: RCW 69.50.414.
Child welfare services: Chapter 74.13 RCW.
Children, expectant mothers and adult developmentally disabled, care and
   placement agencies: Chapter 74.15 RCW.
Children's center for research and training in mental retardation:
   RCW 28B.20.410 through 28B.20.414.
Community property, descent and distribution, devise:
   RCW 11.02.070, 11.04.015.
Contempts: Chapter 7.21 RCW.
Council for the prevention of child abuse and neglect: Chapter 43.121 RCW.
Displaced homemaker act: Chapter 28B.04 RCW.
Enforcement of judgments: Title 6 RCW.
Evidence -- Who are disqualified -- Privileged communications: RCW 5.60.060.
Homesteads: Chapter 6.13 RCW.
Joint tenancies: Chapter 64.28 RCW.
Jurisdiction over Indians as to domestic relations and adoption:
   Chapter 37.12 RCW.
Personal exemptions: Chapter 6.15 RCW.
Probate and trust law: Title 11 RCW.
Sex crimes: Chapter 9A.44 RCW.
Sexually transmitted disease treatment and care for minors, consent,
   liability: RCW 70.24.110.
Shoplifting by minors, liability of parents, guardians: RCW 4.24.230.
Solicitation of minor for immoral purposes: RCW 71.06.010.
Special proceedings and actions: Title 7 RCW; rights of action:
   Chapter 4.24 RCW.
Survival of actions: Chapter 4.20 RCW.
Transfers to minors act: Chapter 11.114 RCW.
Trial -- Implied bias defined: RCW 4.44.180.
Wages due on death of employee -- Payment to survivor under community property
   agreement: RCW 49.48.120.
Youth development and conservation corps: Chapter 43.51 RCW.

                 ==========================

CHAPTER 26.04 RCW -- MARRIAGE

Sections
26.04.010   Who may contract -- Certain marriages void, exception.
26.04.020   Prohibited marriages -- Spouse living -- Consanguinity.
26.04.050   Who may solemnize.
26.04.060   Marriage before unauthorized cleric -- Effect.
26.04.070   Form of solemnization.
26.04.080   Marriage certificate -- Contents.
26.04.090   Certificate for files of county auditor and state registrar of
            vital statistics -- Forms.
26.04.100   Filing and recording -- County auditor.
26.04.105   Preservation of copies of applications and
   licenses -- County auditor.
26.04.110   Penalty for failure to deliver certificates.
26.04.120   Marriage according to religious ritual.
26.04.130   Voidable marriages.
26.04.140   Marriage license.
26.04.150   Application for license -- May be secured by mail -- Execution
            and acknowledgment.
26.04.160   Application for license -- Contents -- Oath.
26.04.165   Additional marriage certificate form.
26.04.170   Inspection of applications.
26.04.175   When disclosure of marriage applications and records prohibited.
26.04.180   License -- Time limitations as to issuance and use -- Notification.
26.04.190   Refusal of license -- Appeal.
26.04.200   Penalty for violations -- 1939 c 204.
26.04.210   Affidavits required for issuance of license.
26.04.220   Retention of license by person solemnizing -- Auditor's record.
26.04.230   Penalty for violation of marriage requirements.
26.04.240   Penalty for unlawful solemnization -- Code 1881.
26.04.250   Penalty for unlawful solemnization -- 1909 c 249.

NOTES:
Certificates for out-of-state marriage license requirements: RCW 70.58.380.
Interschool athletic and other extracurricular activities for students,
   discrimination because of marital status prohibited: RCW 28A.600.200.
Statute of frauds -- Contracts, etc., void unless in writing: RCW 19.36.010.
Veterans and veterans' affairs -- Free marriage and divorce
   certificates: RCW 73.04.120.

                 ==========================

CHAPTER 26.09 RCW -- DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE -- LEGAL SEPARATION

Sections
26.09.002   Policy.
26.09.004   Definitions.
26.09.006   Mandatory use of approved forms.
26.09.010   Civil practice to govern -- Designation of proceedings -- Decrees.
26.09.015   Mediation -- Confidentiality -- Report to court.
26.09.020   Petition in proceeding for dissolution of marriage, legal
            separation, or for a declaration concerning validity of marriage
            -- Contents -- Parties -- Certificate.
26.09.030   Petition for dissolution of marriage -- Court proceedings, findings
            -- Transfer to family court --
             Legal separation in lieu of dissolution.
26.09.040   Petition to have marriage declared invalid or judicial
            determination of validity -- Procedure -- Findings -- Grounds
            -- Legitimacy of children.
26.09.050   Decrees -- Contents -- Restraining orders -- Enforcement.
26.09.060   Temporary maintenance or child support -- Temporary restraining
            order -- Preliminary injunction -- Domestic violence or
            antiharassment protection order -- Support debts, notice.
26.09.070   Separation contracts.
26.09.080   Disposition of property and liabilities -- Factors.
26.09.090   Maintenance orders for either spouse -- Factors.
26.09.100   Child support -- Apportionment of expense -- Periodic adjustments
            or modifications.
26.09.105   Child support -- Health insurance coverage -- Conditions.
26.09.110   Minor or dependent child -- Court appointed attorney.

None of these regulations governing marriage rights and
responsibilities are available to same-sex partners.

Also see:
Governments that offer Full Legal Marriage
Nations
.
Netherlands (2001)
Belgium (2003)
Canada (2005)
Spain (2005)
South Africa (2005)
Norway (2009)
Sweden (2009)
Iceland (2010)
Argentina (2010)
Portugal (2010)
Denmark (2012)
France (2013)
New Zealand (2013)
Brazil (2013)
Uruguay (2013)
New Zealand (2013)
United Kingdom
   (England, Wales) (2013)
Luxembourg (2014)
Finland (2014)
Scotland (2014)
Ireland (2015)
Greenland (2015)
United States (2015)
Colombia (2016)
Germany (2017)
Malta (2017)
Australia (2017)
Austria (2019)
Taiwan (2019)
Ecuador (2019)
Costa Rica (2020)
Chile (2022)
Estonia (2023)
Nepal (2023)
Greece (2024)
US States
.
U.S. Supreme Court, June 26, 2015 Ruling: All States must allow legal, same-sex marriage.
.
These states had legal marriage before the ruling:
.
Massachusetts (2004)
California (2008)
Connecticut (2008)
Iowa (2009)
Vermont (2009)
New Hampshire (2009)
District of Columbia (2009)
New York (2011)
Maine (2012)
Washington (2012)
Maryland (2013)
Rhode Island (2013)
Delaware (2013)
Minnesota (2013)
Illinois (2013)
Utah (2013)
New Jersey (2013)
Hawaii (2013)
New Mexico (2013)
Michigan (2014) - stayed pending legal challenge
Oregon (2014)
Wisconsin (2014)
Arkansas (2014) - stayed pending legal challenge
Pennsylvania (2014)
Indiana (2014)
Nevada (2014)
Virginia (2014)
Oklahoma (2014)
Idaho (2014)
West Virginia (2014)
Alaska (2014)
Arizona (2014)
Wyoming (2014)
Kansas (2014) - stayed pending legal challenge
Florida (2014)
Colorado (2014)
North Carolina (2014)
South Carolina (2014)
Montana (2014)
Alabama (2015)
Native American Tribes
.
Coquille Tribe, Oregon (2009)
Mashantucket Pequot Tribe, Connecticut (2010)
Suquamish Tribe, Washington (2011)
Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe, Washington (2011)
Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Michigan (2013)
Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, Michigan (2013)
Santa Ysabel Tribe, California (2013)
Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, WA (2013)
Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribes, Oklahoma (2013)
Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, Minnesota (2013)
Grand Portage Band of Chippewa, Minnesota (2013)
Puyallup Tribe of Indians, Washington (2014)
Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, Arizona (2014)
Wind River Indian Reservation, Wyoming (2014)
Blackfeet Indian Reservation, Montana (2014)
San Carlos Apache Tribe, Arizona (2014)
Fort McDermitt Paiute & Shoshone Tribes, OR & NV (2014)
Fort McDowell Yavapai Community, Arizona (2014)
Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, WI (2014)
Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa (2014)
Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (2014)
Pascua Yaqui Tribe (2014)
Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, & Siuslaw Indians (2014)
Central Council of Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes, Alaska (2015)
Oneida Nation, Wisconsin (2015)
Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians (2015)
Chemehuevi Indian Tribe (2015)
Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde (2015)
Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians (2015)
Stockbridge-Munsee Tribe (2016)
Oglala Sioux Tribe (2016)
Tulalip Tribe, Washington (2016)
Menominee Nation (2016)
Cherokee Nation (2016)

Return to: Partners: Table of Contents

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