Tampa makes some important history!

Domestic partnerships, both opposite and same sex, have become a standard in our society, no matter how much noise is made to "defend marriage".  Recognizing them for a variety of purposes (in bold in the article below) is so important for people's well being.  Can't tell you how many times a domestic partner is shut out or not recognized by the family of a dying or seriously ill patient in the world famous Cancer Center or in hospices throughout the land.    I'm proud of my adopted city for going in this direction.  








Not known as bastions of civil rights, several counties and cities in Florida have established registries where unmarried coupled (man/woman, man/man, etc.) can register as domestic partners.  


By early July, couples who are 18 or older, not married, not related by blood who live together and consider each other as immediate family will be able to:
• Visit each other in health care facilities in the city.
• Make medical decisions for a partner who is incapacitated.
• Make funeral arrangements for each other.
• Be notified as a family member in an emergency involving a partner.
• Participate in the education of the child of a domestic partner.

Just One Kid in Iowa

Same-sex marriage was legalized in Iowa following the unanimous ruling of the Iowa Supreme Court in Varnum v. Brien on April 3, 2009.

Tumultuously, over the last nearly two years, Iowans have recalled all three Supreme Court justices who ruled that same sex marriage should be legal.

On Feb 1, 2011, “The Iowa House today, by a vote of 62-37, passed an amendment (House Joint Resolution 6) that would deny any form of legal recognition for gay couples. The amendment seeks to prohibit not only the freedom to marry for gay couples, but also civil unions or domestic partnerships.
The bill now moves on to the Iowa Senate, where Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal has vowed to fight attempts to pass the amendment. If passed through both legislative bodies in two consecutive General Assemblies, the issue could be on the ballot as soon as 2013.

In slow free-fall, the state of Iowa attempts to do what was done in California - first recognize the rights of the people, then take them away.

In yesterday's hearings, the people heard from the young man below, Zach Wahl, a native of Iowa. Perhaps some of them listened with an open heart.