Domestic partnership advances in Wash.

OLYMPIA, Wash., March 11 (UPI) -- The Washington state Senate has passed a measure that would give gay couples most of the benefits that heterosexual couples get through marriage.

The measure is expected to be approved by the state House of Representatives, The Seattle Times reported. The Senate approved it 30-18.

Groups opposed to gay marriage describe it as a stealth bill that stops just short of legal same-sex weddings.

"This is the last incremental step before they ... try to attach the name 'marriage' to what is now called domestic partnership," said Gary Randall, head of the Faith and Freedom Network.

Randall said that if the bill becomes law gays are likely to go to court arguing that they have marriage in everything but name -- and then getting the name from a judge.

Ten years ago, the state Legislature passed a Defense of Marriage act, limiting marriage to heterosexual couples.