With Tampa poised to approve a domestic partnership registry for unmarried couples — both gay and straight — any day now, two Pinellas County municipalities will soon mull over similar legislation. St. Peterburg's City Council could see a similar proposal introduced as early as next week, while Gulfport City Council plans to debate a domestic partnership ordinance by mid-April.
Following in the footsteps of Orlando, about two weeks ago the Tampa City Council voted unanimously to approve the Domestic Partners Registry, giving unmarried couples such rights as visiting each other in the hospital and making medical decisions and funeral arrangements for one another.
This article appears in Mar 29 – Apr 4, 2012.