Going Domestic in Lawrence
The Kansas Equality Coalition is beginning a push for a domestic partner registry in Lawrence. According to their web site, the group has been working with Lawrence City Commissioner Mike Rundle to put an ordinance on the City Commission agenda sometime in January. I haven't seen the draft ordinance, so it is just speculation about what it contains, but I would guess that it would set up a registry for Lawrence residents who wish to register as domestic partners. This registry could be used by private businesses who wish to offer domestic partner benefits, as well as requiring the City to recognize registered domestic partners in City facilities such as the hospital and jail.
Although there will certainly be a lot of negative noise made by a few malcontents on the radical right, the ordinance seems destined for success, at least in the legislative arena. Off the top of my head, it easily would have the support of at least three of the five City Commissioner, and it very well could have unanimous support, given then all five commissioners are socially liberal. Any threat by the radical right to put it to a referendum would be hopeless as well, since every precinct in Lawrence voted against the 2005 state amendment banning gay marriage. So, domestic partnerships would have solid public support in Lawrence. Legal support is another question. Although the city attorney will certainly draft an ordinance that is on solid legal footing, right wingers could argue in a lawsuit that an ordinance violates the 2005 anti-marriage amendment which states "No relationship, other than a marriage, shall be recognized by the state as entitling the parties to the rights or incidents of marriage"....construing this to prohibit a modest domestic partnership law is quite a stretch....even our (recently defeated) right-wing attorney general doesn't buy that argument.
So, very likely in a couple months, Lawrence will go down in history as the first city in Kansas to offer domestic partnerships. This will be a proud day for Lawrence and for the state of Kansas. Let's hope it comes soon.
The Kansas Equality Coalition is beginning a push for a domestic partner registry in Lawrence. According to their web site, the group has been working with Lawrence City Commissioner Mike Rundle to put an ordinance on the City Commission agenda sometime in January. I haven't seen the draft ordinance, so it is just speculation about what it contains, but I would guess that it would set up a registry for Lawrence residents who wish to register as domestic partners. This registry could be used by private businesses who wish to offer domestic partner benefits, as well as requiring the City to recognize registered domestic partners in City facilities such as the hospital and jail.
Although there will certainly be a lot of negative noise made by a few malcontents on the radical right, the ordinance seems destined for success, at least in the legislative arena. Off the top of my head, it easily would have the support of at least three of the five City Commissioner, and it very well could have unanimous support, given then all five commissioners are socially liberal. Any threat by the radical right to put it to a referendum would be hopeless as well, since every precinct in Lawrence voted against the 2005 state amendment banning gay marriage. So, domestic partnerships would have solid public support in Lawrence. Legal support is another question. Although the city attorney will certainly draft an ordinance that is on solid legal footing, right wingers could argue in a lawsuit that an ordinance violates the 2005 anti-marriage amendment which states "No relationship, other than a marriage, shall be recognized by the state as entitling the parties to the rights or incidents of marriage"....construing this to prohibit a modest domestic partnership law is quite a stretch....even our (recently defeated) right-wing attorney general doesn't buy that argument.
So, very likely in a couple months, Lawrence will go down in history as the first city in Kansas to offer domestic partnerships. This will be a proud day for Lawrence and for the state of Kansas. Let's hope it comes soon.
posted by Mike at
9:55 PM
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