Momentum is building in Sarasota County. After a recent decision by the City of Sarasota Commission to create a domestic partnership registry, community leaders are hoping for a victory on a countywide level.
Former commissioner Ken Shelin, who led the fight for the City’s DPR, told the Herald Tribune that he would meet with County Commissioners to get the city to recognize the partnerships of unmarried couples – both straight and gay. A number of cities in Florida, including Tampa, St. Petersburg, Gulfport and Clearwater already have similar domestic partnership registries.
“I’ve had no opposition when I’ve made presentations,” Shelin said. “There’s been enthusiastic support. I haven’t had to sit there and explain things in detail or plead.”
Shelin said that though Sarasota Memorial Hospital has been “very good” about working with domestic partners, there are many surgery centers that do not honor power-of-attorney agreements. Many seniors are in committed relationships but do not get married for tax reasons, he said.
Though Florida does not allow civil unions or gay marriage, an attorney general’s opinion approved the registries, inspiring a half-dozen counties and a dozen cities across the state to adopt them. Pinellas County is scheduled to debate the creation of a registry on Jan. 15. Orange County created a registry in mid-2012.
Shelin cited U.S. census data showing that 90 percent of domestic partners are in heterosexual relationships to make the case that the ordinance is “gender neutral.”
“It’s sweeping across the state like a firestorm,” Shelin said of the registries.
In Sarasota, couples must show up to City Hall together, sign an affidavit testifying they are not married to other people, and pay a $30 fee.
the cities of Venice and North Port have expressed interest in their own registries, but a countywide ordinance would negate that need.
