The Tampa City Council voted on Thursday to have its legal department draft an ordinance that would establish a domestic partner registry for city residents.
The proposal was brought forth by Council member Yolie Capin, who told CL after the meeting that she had been thinking of bringing the issue up for awhile, but was inspired to do so after the city of Orlando passed an ordinance in December and enacted it last month.
For a $30 fee, unmarried residents in Orlando, whether gay or straight, can be eligible for visitation rights in hospitals and jails, as well as make heath care and funeral decisions. They must be at least 18 years old, unmarried, competent, must co-habitate, and have joint financial dependency. The Orlando Business Journal reported that business groups backed the venture because it will help to attract and retain employees.
This article appears in Feb 23-29, 2012.