VICTORY: Gulfport Becomes 1st Pinellas City to pass Domestic Partnership Registry
By a 5-0 vote, the Gulfport City Council became the first city in Pinellas County to adopt a Domestic Partnership Registry.
A capcity crowd overflowed into the lobby to watch the proceedings on televison. Speaker after speaker called on Gulfport to continue its tradition of supporting equality for LGBT residents.
The mayor agreed to hold a public signing tomorrow Wednesday May 16th at 9AM at city council chambers.
Councilmembers and the mayor called on Pinellas County to pass a registry so that all municipalities can fall under the county umbrella.
Pinellas County commissioners have agreed to take the issue up as have St. Petersburg and Clearwater elected leaders.
The city’s registry will allow the following rights for registered domestic partners within city limits:
*Healthcare facility visitation
*Medical decision making power for an incapacitated partner
*Ability to make funeral arrangements for one another
*Emergency notification
*Designation as a pre-need guardian
*Within the parameters of state and federal law, participate in the education of a dependent’s education