Washington may make same-sex divorces easier

01/11/2012

The council of Washington D.C. may consider making it easier for same-sex couples to divorce, media reports have said.

Washington began allowing same-sex marriages in October 2010 and is one of six states which recognize gay and lesbian marriages. However, same-sex couples are facing difficulties obtaining a divorce in states which don’t recognize their marriage.

The proposed bill would make it easier for same-sex couples who were married in Washington to get divorced even if they have moved to another state. Currently, one partner of the couple must be resident in Washington for six months before they can proceed with a divorce. The bill would remove the necessity for this.

The Washington Post reports that the Committee on the Judiciary passed a unanimous vote this week to send the bill to the full council.

D.C. councilman Phil Mendelson told the Washington Examiner, "It's an unfortunate side of the marriage question. The states aren't all on the same page, which has never been the case before when it comes to marriage.”

Richard Rosendall, vice president of political affairs for the Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance of Washington, told the Examiner that the proposed measure would be "kind of a housekeeping measure” which would help divorcing same-sex couples avoid unnecessary personal upset.