TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) -- Leon County Commissioners will take public comment Tuesday on a measure that would create a domestic partnership registry.
The measure, proposed by Commissioner Mary Ann Lindley would extend benefits, similar to those that married couple's get, to those who are registered with the domestic partnership registry, gay or straight.
Despite Florida voters approving a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage in 2008, the local measure says it "shall not be construed as recognizing or treating a registered domestic partnership as a marriage."
"The county council finds that there are many individuals who establish and maintain a significant personal and economic relationship with another individual," the ordinance states. "Individual forming such domestic partnership often live in a committed domestic relationship. Domestic partners are often denied certain benefits and rights because there is no established system for such relationships to be registered or recognized.
Right now it's up to local governments to decide whether to create a domestic partnership registry.
If passed by Leon County commissioners, the local registry would be maintained by the Leon County Clerk's office. Broward, Miami-Dade, Orange, Palm Beach, Pinellas and Voulsia counties, along with the cities of Gainesville, Key West, Sarasota, Tampa and Tavres already allow domestic partnership registration.
The one and only public comment meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 12 at 6:00 p.m. at the Leon County Building on North Monroe Street.
