LGBT rights in Washington
Encyclopedia
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons in the U.S.
state of Washington face some legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT
residents. Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Washington. Same-sex couples and families headed by same-sex couples are not eligible for all of the protections available to opposite-sex married couples.
not to have a Constitutional amendment
defining marriage.
Since 2001, Washington state has provided benefits to sames-sex partners of state employees.
Since the 2007 case Andersen v. King County
, Washington state has recognized its own state-registered domestic partnerships, which are considered equivalent to domestic partnerships, civil unions, and marriages for same-sex couples in other jurisdictions. It has also recognized same-sex civil unions and domestic partnership established in other jurisdictions since then.
Since 2011, Washington state recognizes same-sex marriages performed elsewhere as the equivalent of its own domestic partnerships.
ruled in May 2010 that its rules governing communal property income for married couples extend to couples who file taxes in a community property state that recognizes domestic partnerships or same-sex marriages. Couples with registered domestic partnerships in Washington, a community property state, must first combine their annual income and then each must claim half that amount as his or her income for federal tax purposes.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
state of Washington face some legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT
LGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
residents. Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Washington. Same-sex couples and families headed by same-sex couples are not eligible for all of the protections available to opposite-sex married couples.
Recognition of same-sex marriage
Since 1998, under Washington state statutes (also called the Defence of Marriage Act) bans same sex marriage and Washington state is the only state on the west coastWest Coast
West Coast most often refers to coastline which is on the western side of a particular area. Many other terms refer to this initial meaning. Some of these things include:-Australia:...
not to have a Constitutional amendment
Constitutional amendment
A constitutional amendment is a formal change to the text of the written constitution of a nation or state.Most constitutions require that amendments cannot be enacted unless they have passed a special procedure that is more stringent than that required of ordinary legislation...
defining marriage.
Since 2001, Washington state has provided benefits to sames-sex partners of state employees.
Since the 2007 case Andersen v. King County
Andersen v. King County
Andersen v. King County, 138 P.3d 963 — formerly Andersen v. Sims — is a case filed by eight Washingtonian lesbian and gay couples, who sued King County and the state of Washington for denying them marriage licenses under the state’s 1998 Defense of Marriage Act, which defined marriage as between...
, Washington state has recognized its own state-registered domestic partnerships, which are considered equivalent to domestic partnerships, civil unions, and marriages for same-sex couples in other jurisdictions. It has also recognized same-sex civil unions and domestic partnership established in other jurisdictions since then.
Since 2011, Washington state recognizes same-sex marriages performed elsewhere as the equivalent of its own domestic partnerships.
Federal Income Tax
The Internal Revenue ServiceInternal Revenue Service
The Internal Revenue Service is the revenue service of the United States federal government. The agency is a bureau of the Department of the Treasury, and is under the immediate direction of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue...
ruled in May 2010 that its rules governing communal property income for married couples extend to couples who file taxes in a community property state that recognizes domestic partnerships or same-sex marriages. Couples with registered domestic partnerships in Washington, a community property state, must first combine their annual income and then each must claim half that amount as his or her income for federal tax purposes.