Nevada Partnership Bill Now Law, Overrides Gov's Veto

[babylonsister]

Nevada Partnership Bill Now Law

By STEVE FRIESS
Published: June 1, 2009


The Nevada Legislature voted into law a domestic partnership registry for same-sex and unmarried straight couples on Sunday evening, with the Assembly mustering the two-thirds vote required to override a veto by Gov. Jim Gibbons, a Republican.

The move makes Nevada the 17th state to recognize the relationships of gay men and lesbians, creating the registry with the secretary of state by which couples receive legal protections associated with marriage.

The State Senate voted to override the veto on Saturday.

The Nevada law does not require businesses to provide health benefits to the domestic partners of their employees.

“The significance here is it literally equates domestic partner with spouse under Nevada state law,” said Michael Ginsburg of the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada.

“You have the full force of the law behind you now,” Mr. Ginsburg said. “When you’re in the hospital, forced to make decisions for your partner, all you have to say is, ‘This is my spouse,’ and that carries tremendous weight.”

more...

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/01/us/01nevada.html?ref=global-home

[LynneSin]

1. You know this is the basics that every state should have right now

I understand the importance for the GLBT community to fight for the equal right to marriage and I'll join the fight until it happens nationwide. But for many states this might be the best option we can get right now. The concept that a gay person in the hospital might not have the rights to their partner assisting with making choice is just heartbreaking.