Orlando City commissioners voted unanimously Monday to implement a Domestic Partnership Registry, as scores of LGBT couples applauded the city on the historic event.
While the ordinance will not grant LGBT persons the same rights as married couples, it grants registered domestic partners in same-sex or opposite-sex couples the right to visit each other in the hospital, nursing homes, jail and make health care decision for each other.
About 18 persons, including former Orlando Police Chief Val Demings, addressed the Council and expressed their support for the Domestic Partnership Registry.
Demings recalled her Christian upbringing, referencing Bible verses like, ‘love your neighbor as you love yourself,’ and ‘treat your neighbor as you would want to be treated.’
“Isn’t it reasonable to believe that every individual, every couple wants and deserves to have the same right?” Demings asked rhetorically. “The advent of the Domestic Partnership Registry gives me one more reason, to be very, very proud to have been a part of the City Beautiful.”
“It’s just the right thing to do, the time is right and the time is now,” she added.
Nikki Drumb, who with her partner, Rachael Gardiner, addressed the council said, while she is terrified of speaking in public, the adoption of the Registry is so important, she felt compelled to speak.
“Seven years ago, the first token of commitment that I gave to Rachael was a card,” Drumb said. “Not a Hallmark card but a wallet-size emergency card…and even with that card, I might not be called.” I had to take some sort of step that she is my chosen one, she added.
She added that, it is odd to define a relationship in terms of licenses, documents or acts of government, instead of “honey, I saved the last piece of pie for you.”
With the passage of the Domestic Partnership Registry ordinance, LGBT persons could begin on January 12, 2012 registering their names. In order to do so, individuals should bring along their partner, identification and $30 cash or check.
Why does the headlines use the term gay registry, when the law applies to same sex and opposite sex couples?