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.

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 …

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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, …   more ›

City Officials Look to Support Countywide Domestic Registry

City Attorney Tom Trask and City Clerk Denise Schlegel present a draft resolution Thursday expressing city support for a countywide domestic partnership registry ordinance to be read for the first time on Jan. 15.

Pinellas County Commissioners are gearing up for a public discussion of a countywide domestic partnership registry early next week. And Dunedin officials are planning to lend support for its passing during Thursday's city commission meeting, starting at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall. Tom Trask, city attorney, and Denise Schlegel, city clerk, present a draft resolution expressing city support for a countywide domestic partnership registry ordinance to be read during a public hearing for the first time on Jan. 15. "There are a significant number of residents within Pinellas County, and specifically within the City of Dunedin, who maintain important personal, emotional and economic relationships with persons to whom they are not married," draft …

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Jerry Wayne

2:36 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013

This is awesome! Cannot happen soon enough!   more ›

Pinellas Domestic Registry: What's Dunedin Saying?

The provision would allow, in part, domestic partners to make health care decisions for each other, including for end-of-life care, among other things.

Dunedin Patch's story last week asking readers what they think about Pinellas adopting a countywide domestic partner registry caught lots of attention. Pinellas County expects to vote in 2013 on a proposal for a domestic registry that grants domestic partners — gay and straight — many of the same rights as married couples. The provision would allow, in part, domestic partners to make health care decisions for each other, including for end-of-life care, among other things.  A public hearing is scheduled for Jan. 15. Dunedin city leaders have not created a local registry like some other cities in Pinellas have (Gulfport, Clearwater and St. Petersburg). City leaders have said they wanted to wait and see what action Pinellas County leaders …

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Ron Barnette

7:39 pm on Friday, January 4, 2013

Update: We on the City Commission have received copy of the Pinellas County Commission draft proposal for their Jan 15 meeting, and we will discuss this for our support on Jan. 10. I mentioned that I would get back to you, and this is what I learned. Their proposal looks to be very positive as I read it, and I look forward to hearing from my colleagues on the Commission. www.Dunedingov.com is a …   more ›

What's Tampa Bay Saying?

Should Florida Counties Allow Domestic Registry?

Pinellas County will become the sixth county in Florida to adopt a domestic registry, if commissioners approve the proposal.

St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Gulfport already have their own local domestic registries recognizing same-sex marriages. Now Pinellas County expects to vote in 2013 on a proposal for a countywide domestic registry that grants domestic partners – gay and straight – many of the same rights as married couples. A public hearing is scheduled for Jan. 15. Although domestic registries are catching on across the nation, from Key West to Kansas City, Florida has a constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union between a man and a woman. Should Pinellas County, Florida, adopt a domestic registry? Share your thoughts in the comments below. Even as Florida counties adopt domestic registries, the state will not recognize them. Do you agree? …

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