While more than 20 couples signed up for the City of St. Petersburg’s domestic partnership registry on Aug. 1, couples in the northern parts of Pinellas County awaited patiently for a city closer by to offer the protections.
Now, it looks like the City of Largo could be the next major city to offer unmarried partners a few basic protections with a city registry.
“I just got word that the Largo City Commission will bring the domestic partnership registry to the Sept. 10 work session,” said Largo commissioner Michael Smith. He added that the public won’t be able to speak at that particular meeting, but that the DPR is on its way to becoming a reality in the city, which has a checkered past with the LGBT community.
If the registry survives the Sept. 10 work session, the public will have a chance to voice its opinion on the ordinance later in the month. And Largo residents have a history of speaking out on ordinances that benefit the LGBT community. In 2007, hundreds of residents turned out at commission meetings when then-City Manager Steve Stanton announced plans to transition to become Susan Stanton. After nearly two decades with the city, the commission voted to fire Stanton after hearing several hours of commentary from area residents.
A domestic partnership registry could bring out some of those same residents, but it could also bring out many more supporters. Smith, who is the first openly gay elected official in Largo, believes the environment has changed and that the success of registries in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Gulfport and soon in Clearwater have proven their viability.
“It’s not a gay or straight issue, it’s a human issue,” Smith said during a July commission meeting.
In St. Pete and Tampa, couples can register as domestic partners for a fee of $30. In Gulfport, the fee is $25. A registry in Largo would have a similar fee attached. A Facebook group called “Pass the Largo Domestic Partnership Registry” is encouraging residents to attend commission meetings and to write letters in support of the ordinance.
In Pinellas County, commissioners are expected to discuss a county-wide registry at its Sept. 25 meeting.
