Dunedin Officials Support Domestic Registry for Pinellas
City officials expressed unanimous support for a countywide domestic partnership registry being discussed by Pinellas Commissioners on Jan. 15.
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Dunedin officials gave unanimous support for Pinellas commissioners' consideration of a countywide domestic partnership registry Thursday.
City commissioners passed a resolution supporting the idea before it goes to a public hearing at the Board of Pinellas County Commissioners on Jan. 15.
"This symbolizes squarely the nature of the community we live in," Commissioner Ron Barnette said of the county's draft ordinance.
The county provision would allow, in part, domestic partners — gay and straight — to make health care decisions for each other, including for end-of-life care, among other things.
Vice Mayor Julie Ward Bujalski said she supports the idea of a countywide registry over a municipal one.
"People should have the same rights everywhere they go in this county," Bujalski said.
Related Coverage:
- Pinellas Domestic Registry: What's Dunedin Saying?
- Should Florida Counties Allow Domestic Registry?
- Commissioners Offended By Domestic Registry Comment
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Gator girl
8:01 pm on Friday, January 11, 2013
This is wonderful news. If only everyone else could be so open minded. I'm a straight and married mother of two young sons. I would never wish for my children, regardless of their sexual orientation to be discriminated against nor have their partnership (man or woman) be unrecognized. I'm also a teacher and let me tell you that I've had young students that are pretty obviously not interested in the opposite sex. I really don't believe people should be deprived of rights due to the fact that they were simply born a tad different than the majority. Nice job City Commissioners!
Julie Ward Bujalski
2:16 pm on Saturday, January 12, 2013
Thank you Gator Girl. Be sure to show your support to the County Commission as well. They will be discussing this on the 15th!
Ron Barnette
12:12 am on Monday, January 14, 2013
Discrimination of loving partners, gay or straight, is wrong, and I am very proud to have been instrumental, along with my Commission colleagues, to further our Domestic Partnership Registry in Dunedin through this unanimous vote. Dunedin is a loving community for all its residents, and I sure hope that the County Commission feels likewise when they meet on this matter on Jan 15.
Ron Barnette,
Dunedin City Commissioner