Health Care Eligibility for Cohabitating Couples

The purpose of this petition is to ensure that all Washington State couples in domestic partnership are eligible to receive state funded medical assistance.
According to RCW 49.06.010: The legislature hereby finds and declares that practices of discrimination against any of its inhabitants because of race, creed, color, national origin, families with children, sex, marital status, sexual orientation...that such discrimination threatens not only the rights and proper privileges of its inhabitants but menaces the institutions and foundation of a free democratic state. A state agency is herein created with powers with respect to elimination and prevention of discrimination in employment, in credit and insurance transactions.

In Washington, state funded medical assistance is currently given to couples if they are legally married and financially responsible for each other. According to the US Census Bureau, in Washington there are 139,469 unmarried heterosexual couples and 15,900 same-sex couples cohabitating together. Health care eligibility should be awarded to couples who are financially responsible and cohabitating with each other. Without a revision of this law, couples and families in need of medical assistance will not receive the same privileges as married, heterosexual couples.
Please show your support for same-sex couples in Washington State.