Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire signed into law Saturday a measure to create domestic partnerships, giving gay and lesbian couples some of the same rights that come with marriage.The law creates a domestic partnership registry and provides enhanced rights for same-sex couples, including hospital visitation rights, the ability to authorize autopsies and organ donations and inheritance rights when there is no will.
“It offers the hope that one day, all lesbian and gay families will be treated truly equal under the law,” said state Sen. Ed Murray, who is one of five openly gay lawmakers in the Legislature.