Salt Lake Mulls Partner Registry

by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff

(Salt Lake City, Utah) Salt Lake Mayor Ralph Becker is wasting no time making good on a campaign promise. In his first official action as mayor he has proposed a domestic partner registry for same-sex couples and for opposite-sex couples who cannot or chose not to marry.

The measure will be voted on by city council on January 22. Despite being the home to the Mormon Church and in one of the nation's most conservative states, Salt Lake tends to lean left and a majority on city council say they will support the plan.

A number of councilors worked on the wording of the ordinance with Becker to make sure it complies with Utah's constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.

Much of the bill's language was taken from the 2006 ordinance extending insurance benefits to adult designees of city workers. That measure already has passed judicial scrutiny.

A spokesperson for the mayor also says that the bill conforms with Utah state law granting cities the power to "preserve the health and promote the prosperity, improve the morals, peace and good order, comfort and convenience of the city and its inhabitants."

Nevertheless, some state legislators say if the bill is passed they will scrutinize it to be sure it does not violate the constitutional amendment.

"I just have to be certain we're not coming in the back door of the amendment," Sen. Chris Buttars (R) told the Salt Lake Tribune. Buttars, the prime backer of the amendment, was one of the most vocal opponents of the 2006 ordinance on domestic partner insurance for city workers. Buttars also attempted to get a ban on gay adoption through the legislature.

The registry would be open to adult unmarried couples who live together in an interdependent relationship. They would register with the City Recorder's Office and receive a certificate.

Becker said that the certificate could be used to affirm a relationship to be eligible for domestic partner health insurance at companies that officer such plans.

Registered couples also would have visitation rights at city hospitals when a partner is ill and it would give partners family rights at facilities operated by the city.

©365Gay.com 2008