First few Article Sentences
In early December 2009, Washington’s “Everything but Marriage” law that expanded its existing domestic partnership law to include any rights available to an opposite-sex married couple under any state law, became effective. The law now provides a number of benefits to domestic partners, like the right to use sick leave to care for a domestic partner, the right to wages and benefits when a domestic partner is injured or dies, and the right to unemployment, disability, or other insurance benefits, such as employer-provided health insurance.