(Salt Lake City, Utah) Salt Lake Mayor Ralph Becker is wasting no time making good on a campaign promise. In his first official action as mayor he has proposed a domestic partner registry for same-sex couples and for opposite-sex couples who cannot or chose not to marry.
The measure will be voted on by city council on January 22. Despite being the home to the Mormon Church and in one of the nation's most conservative states, Salt Lake tends to lean left and a majority on city council say they will support the plan.
A number of councilors worked on the wording of the ordinance with Becker to make sure it complies with Utah's constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.
Registered couples also would have visitation rights at city hospitals when a partner is ill and it would give partners family rights at facilities operated by the city.
We commend Mayor Becker for his efforts to thwart the amendment banning same-sex marriage by trying to pass a domestic partnership legislation. And it is hard to believe with all the children waiting to be adopted that yet another state official is trying to ban gay adoption, shame on you, Sen. Chris Buttars (R). It is not everything but it is enough to secure a couples right to hospital visitation and family benefits for city employees. We hope he is successful and will cross our fingers on January 22nd. Kudos, one step ahead for our friends in Salt Lake City towards equality.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment