Washington has become the first state to approve expansive domestic partnership benefits into law. The bill is said to include everything that falls under marriage without the label “marriage.” I think that this is fantastic news. Though I realize that for many this will not suffice and that in due time is still expected to be changed to recognize homosexual couples as married. But this is still great news. This is still another huge step forward on the road to full marriage equality. To think that I could move to Washington and have complete rights as a lesbian just blows my mind. I live in a state that offers domestic partnership benefits but that does not include “complete” partner benefits. Benefits are coming slowly and complete marriage equality is even slower but equality is on its way and there’s no stopping it.

“Hope will never be silent.” - Harvey Milk