Pinellas County is on track to introduce and approve a domestic partnership registry sometime in early 2013. During a Dec. 6 meeting, commissioners set a date of Jan. 15 on whether to establish a registry that would incorporate those already existing in St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Gulfport. The registry already has the support of the majority of the board.
There had long been talk of a registry for the county in workshops throughout 2011, but this is the first substantial move toward an ordinance that would let unmarried couples in the county – gay or straight – register for a handful of certain rights that are typically reserved for married couples. If the registry is approved – which is expected – unmarried couples could visit each other in emergency rooms and make healthcare decisions for each other.
Newly elected board members Charlie Justice and Janet Long replaced right-leaning commissioners on Nov. 6, and both support the registry.
Even Norm Roche, who is seen as the most conservative commissioner remaining on the board, seems to support the registry. He even wants to make sure that couples who have registered in one of the cities already offering the protections are grandfathered into a county-wide version.
“I don’t want to see folks who have paid $25 to register with the city pay another $50 to register with the county,” he told the board.
While already-registered couples may not have to pay another fee, there is a chance they would need to re-register with the county in order to have the relationship recognized on a countywide level.
Commissioner placed the registry on the Jan. 15 agenda. The board will meet that morning at 9 a.m.
