Mayor Jacobs: Domestic-partner registry still isn't needed

By David Damron, Orlando Sentinel

9:08 p.m. EST, January 9, 2012

Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs told reporters Monday that she's still not convinced a domestic-partner registry that gay rights activists are seeking is truly needed.

Jacobs said she is still evaluating the proposal and has met with hospital leaders about what measures would address concerns that gay couples are denied certain visitation and end-of-life rights that married couples have.

Jacobs said she's looking at other ways to allow couples, or even people who don't live together, to transfer certain powers to others in such cases, and to make those records available to hospitals and others through a database. Jacobs said she could work with Comptroller Martha Haynie and devise a system that would not require an ordinance that creates a registry.

Activists continue to say that doesn't go far enough, and they are asking Jacobs to adopt a registry along the lines that Orlando city leaders approved recently.

"We don't need more forms; we already have forms, and it's not enough," said attorney Mary Meeks, a lead advocate for a registry.

Meeks said the documents would lack the legal force that sometimes leads to problems now for gay couples.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/orlandosentinel/news/~3/-s94eE29TnY/os-gay-rights-registry-011012-20120109,0,1597953.story

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