Gov. Gregoire addresses the Human Rights Campaign Reception

September 20, 2008

AS WRITTEN

Thank you

Thank you to the Human Rights Campaign for this wonderful award.

I know the tremendous work you do, not just here in Washington, but all across the country.

So to be honored with your �Equality Award� touches me deeply.

Our work together has been hard, and it will continue to be hard. And believe me when I say we�re ready for that.

But sometimes we need to take stock�to look back�to enjoy the progress we are making to secure basic rights for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender men and women.

When I took office, I sat down with you, and with our great legislative delegation, and I also heard from fair-minded Washingtonians everywhere.

And we set out to do one thing -- Right some basic wrongs that were hurting Washington families and individuals � and at the same time � hurting our state.

(Because I happen to believe that Washingtonians are fair, value equality, and respect their fellow Washingtonians.)

So how far have we come in the past few years?

We changed laws to provide the L-G-B-T families important rights enjoyed by straight couples.

These are strong, committed families, and if I live to be 100, I�ll never understand why anybody should oppose this basic fairness.

But I don�t have to understand � because in the past few years we have strengthened families and we�re on to the next battles.

Now, our L-G-B-T community can visit partners in the hospital, provide informed consent for a partner who is not competent, inherit a partner�s property, make funeral arrangements, and yes, even dissolve a domestic partnership � divorce if you will.

I know one woman who spent $100,000 going through this process because there were no rules to go by � and that includes rules around child support and other incredibly vital family issues.

I also remain very proud that finally, after far too many years, the State of Washington took an affirmative stand to say to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals�

�Moms and dads�sons and daughters�neighbors, co-workers and friends...

�.That they -- like all other people -- are free to work in an environment absent discrimination, or buy a house or rent an apartment absent discrimination.

Tonight, I�m very proud to be honored by the Human Rights Campaign.

And I want you to know. I will honor you in kind by always standing with you to make sure all Washingtonians are treated fairly and equally.

Thank You