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OLYMPIA,
Wash.
(AP)
—
Thousands
of
gay
and
lesbian
couples
last
week
celebrated
the
one-year
anniversary
of
Washington
state's
new
law
creating
domestic
partnerships
for
same-sex
couples.
More
than
4,200
couples
have
registered
since
the
law
took
effect
last
July.
The
law
was
passed
after
same-sex
marriage
advocates
suffered
a
defeat
at
the
hands
of
the
state
Supreme
Court,
which
upheld
Washington's
ban
on
same-sex
marriage.
This
year,
a
law
to
expand
the
underlying
law
passed,
and
as
of
last
month,
domestic
partners
were
granted
dozens
of
additional
benefits
and
responsibilities
given
to
married
couples
in
areas
like
probate
and
trusts,
community
property
and
homestead
tax
exemptions,
and
guardianship
and
powers
of
attorney.
To
be
registered,
couples
must
share
a
home,
not
be
married
or
in
a
domestic
relationship
with
someone
else,
and
be
at
least
18
years
old.
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