Despite Republican Gov. Jim Gibbon's veto, domestic-partnership benefits for all couples will become a reality in Nevada this fall. Is this a back-door approach to same-sex equality? Who can we thank?
The Nevada State Assembly voted Monday to override the governor's veto of a domestic-partnership law, which will take effect Oct. 1. The newly minted ruling will grant rights identical to marriage to same-sex and opposite-sex couples who register as domestic partners. Couples that wish to become domestic partners only have to sign a registry at the secretary of state's office and pay a fee, according to a United Press International (UPI) report.
The law, however, does not require employers to offer medical benefits to domestic partners. And although not technically called marriage, gay-rights supporters are still lauding the new law since it so closely resembles it.
"The significance here is it literally equates 'domestic partner' with 'spouse' under Nevada state law," Michael Ginsburg, of the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada, told The New York Times. "You have the full force of the law behind you now. When you're in the hospital, forced to make decisions for your partner, all you have to say is, 'This is my spouse,' and that carries tremendous weight."
Nevada is one of numerous states that have adopted a constitutional definition of marriage as between one man and one woman. Reports say some conservative groups in the state are mulling over challenging the new law.
Meanwhile, in Maryland, Attorney General Douglas Gansler is looking to determine whether same-sex couples married in states that permit lesbian and gay nuptials (Massachusetts, Vermont, Maine, Iowa and Connecticut) can be recognized as such in Maryland, according to ABC2News.com.
Maryland is another state that defines marriage as between one man and one woman, but the attorney general's review stems from a state law that allows for recognition of marriages--presumably heterosexual marriages--performed out of state.
If the attorney general issues a decision that grants recognition of out-of-state same-sex nups, which reports say will be announced, either way, within the next few weeks, married same-sex couples would benefit from "hundreds of rights, benefits and responsibilities" afforded married heterosexual couples.
Heather Mizeur, a lesbian and a resident of Maryland, tells ABC2News this is a potential step in the right direction. "In some ways, this could be a back door toward marriage equality," Mizeur said. "I hold out hope for the day that it's part of our everyday culture here in Maryland, and it's no big deal."
Maryland currently offers limited rights to same-sex couples, including hospital visitations and medical benefits to same-sex partners of state employees.
why do people care so much of how it makes them feel, you ask people how does this affect you they dont like it well who are you, turn away dont look , i thought this was a free country but we are not everyone is so judgeing about everybody. worry about war, disasters of the world not gay people. we are human too, you wouldnt know us if we didnt tell or you see us kiss or hold hands new presdient or not he will never be on our side.
