Sarasota City Commissioners will hear the pros and cons of establishing a Domestic Partner Registry at their Monday evening meeting.
Former Vice Mayor Ken Shelin proposed the ordinance. Shelin said the registry assures visits to health care facilities, the ability to make end-of-life decisions for partners and decisions regarding minor children living in the household. And he said it’s easy to sign up.
“It involves going to the city clerk and filling out a single page affidavit that declares you are a part of this domestic partnership and paying a fee and the fee varies from $30 to $50 – and for that you gain all these rights,” he said.
Five Florida counties and nine cities, including Tampa and Orlando, have established domestic partner registries. Shelin says they protect the rights of both gay and straight couples.
A court decision has upheld the legality of the domestic partner registries in Florida. 2010 Census Data revealed 12 percent of U.S. households are made up of unmarried couples.