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Loading ...Nevada gov. vetoes partner bill
05.26.2009 5:36pm EDT
(Carson City, Nevada) Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons has carried through on his threat and vetoed a bill that would allow same- and opposite-sex couples to register as domestic partners and receive many of same rights as married couples have in the state.
The bill was passed by the Legislature earlier this month, despite the threat.In a statement Monday, Gibbons said domestic partnerships are essentially the same as marriage and that the bill conflicts with a constitutional amendment approved by Nevada voters in 2002 limiting marriage to a man and a woman. Gibbons statement said that only the voters should be able to amend or undo provisions of the constitution.
The bill, however, makes it clear that domestic partnerships does not equal marriage. It would have given domestic partners the “same rights, protections, benefits, responsibilities, obligations and duties” as traditionally married couples, including the same divorce laws, such as those involving community property.
The bill exempted state public sector employers from being required to provide health care benefits to employees’ partners. It does not block similar benefits from being provided in the private sector.
It would have allowed same-sex couples to register their relationships with the secretary of state’s office.
A public opinion poll released this month by The Las Vegas Review-Journal found that 38 percent of Nevadans favor domestic partner legislation, while 50 percent oppose it and the remainder are undecided.
It is unclear if the Legislature will attempt to override Gibbons’ veto.
My partner of 8 years and I would never visit a state where our rights are missing. We were planning on a Las Vegas weekend but not now. San Francisco was the other destination of interest for a vacation, but not now. Until Florida comes around, Disney is off limits. For the time being, we’ll take a New England tour, and stop by the legal states. Living in the city of New Bedford, MA, has afforded us a way to enjoy Cape Cod, and the very best of New England.
screw vegas. I’m going to atlantic city.
At the least it is time to boycot these states…and that includes vacations. Florida, where 66% of the population, forbids equal rights, should be avoided at all costs.California and other states with similiar measures also. Frankly I’m looking into Canada…I am afraid the only way we will be free, is to follow the Blacks and RIOT!
Mr. Gibbons: You are a bigotted PIG.
Denying loving couples from basic protections.
Tom in Long Beach
We must remember we are not at a disavantage we still got the power we must remember that its take a community to bring change to this country the same people that voted on change must again make that sacrifice we must send a message to these republican gops that they are out of touch and that we elected them in office and we have the power to get them out as well there is nothing as powerful as the human spirit we must never forget that !!!
We DO live in Nevada AND my LOVE of 8 years and I ARE one of the 18,000 married on June 27,2008 but now quarantined by the courts! This is a dark day for us we are saddened for our GLBT family and with a heavy heart I say to the GLBT community in the U.S. STAY AWAY from NEVADA! CA. too for that matter! Don’t spend a penny in either state! I am ashamed of our cheating Gov.! I am ashamed of the CA. supreme court! God I feel like we’ve been made into married lepers with no where to turn! Powerless to helpless to give everyone the same marriage we have! This is the worst I have felt in the 20+ years of fighting for our rights! But it not anger I feel just deep sadness…..this is just so sad……
Thank GOD I HAVE you and YOUR LOVE KEITH!
I LOVE YOU HEART AND SOUL NOW AND FOREVER!! And no law, court, or politician can EVER take that away!
My partner has been trying to convince me to move us to Las Vegas. I used to live there, i used to miss Las Vegas. Now I dont think we should go. I will work on convincing him not to make us go. The west is like the deep south was for the Blacks in the 1960s. I will not be going back to CA or NV. Uh-uh, not until things change out west. I am currently looking up cost of living in Iowa and New England.
I will not be buying merchandise/food from CA and NV or taking trips there anymore. This is a shitty day for us and for those who support equal rights. This is why I dont like to watch the news or go anywhere. Good bye!
I do not live in Nevada, nor do I wish to if that state is being represented by this asshole. I suggest a nationwide boycott on Nevade. Anyone second that notion?
Just show how the Mormons and Catholics lie. They say are against same-sex marriage, but don’t object to civil unions or domestic partnership. However, any time they get to decide about civil unions and domestic partnerships, it turns out they are against them too. In other words, they are BIGOTS.
I guess allowing domestic partner benefits would infringe on Gibbons’ religious right to be a bigot.
If you go to his website (governor of nev-hateda) and you see his pic. and scroll down and see his wife, he looks 60yrs old and she looks 20 or 30 years old… another old white hateful, hypocrite BIGOT! She is probably his 2nd or 3rd “marriage” pfff.
I suppose they are gonna go to their “heaven” because they are stopping 2 people that love each other from being by each other’s bedside in hospital or for SHARING each others health insurance, etc..
The Republicans are ALWAYS worred MOST about MONEY (The mighty Dollar) over anything! So I hope they PAY big time. I can survive on little or nothing, used to it, so wont bother me none to see it all collapse around them! Won’t be seeing me ever again in Vegas!
Jim Gibbons should be shot in the head.
Bigotry, hatefulness, and ignorance all in the name of god – that’s the god that you can buy at Toy-R-Us. It is that little statue with the long white beard. When you pull the cord hanging out of its back it farts, just like the people who kiss its butt. Fortunately that god doesn’t exist except on the shelf with the other toys and in the minds of the Christain Taliban of which the governor is a senior member.
Good, Another state, I will NOT go to and spend money!
Amazing, the state that thrives off of Drive Thru Marriages!
The Santicty of Marriage my ass, just hateful Republicans and Hateful RELIGIONS!
Bizzaro World. I should have just stayed in bed!
Could we build a wall around those Western states and let them starve?