PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) - Florida's conservative Panhandle region is seeing big changes in attitudes toward gay marriage and gay and lesbian rights.
The city of Pensacola surprised some gay rights activists by approving a domestic partnership registry last year. It allows gay and lesbian couples to register as partners, giving them specific rights within the city's boundaries including hospital visitation, health care decisions and funeral and burial decisions for their partners.
Experts say changing attitudes in Florida's most conservative region reflect a change in attitudes nationally. They say recent decisions by the military to allow service members to serve openly are another reason for change in the Panhandle, which is home to numerous military bases.
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