Orange County Board of Commissioners will vote today on a countywide domestic partnership registry.
After two years in the making, the ordinance to create a domestic partnership registry, will provide protections for gay couples and unmarried straight partners.
The Health, Education and Life Protection or HELP Ordinance, has gone through changes and now include provisions creating a countywide domestic partnership registry.
HELP is expected to be approved today and once passed, gay and straight couples that register under the City of Orlando’s DPR will have their relationships recognized countywide and have access to enforceable and vital protections anywhere in Orange County.
HELP’s anticipated passage comes just four days after Volusia County Council members voted to create Central Florida’s first countywide registry.
Since the City of Orlando’s registry was created last November, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Gulfport, Belle Isle, Sarasota, Pinellas County, Volusia County and Orange County have all begun the process for adopting a domestic partnership registry.
