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Loading ...Nevada lawmakers reject veto of partnership bill
06.01.2009 1:53pm EDT
(Carson City, Nev.) Nevada’s Assembly voted Sunday to override Gov. Jim Gibbons’ veto and to change state law so that domestic partners, whether gay or straight, have many of the rights and benefits that Nevada offers to married couples.
The Assembly’s 28-14 vote – the bare two-thirds majority needed – followed the state Senate’s vote a day earlier to enact the measure into state lawbooks over the conservative Republican governor’s objections.The bill provides that domestic partners have the same rights as married couples in matters such as community property and responsibility for debts. It also prohibits discrimination against domestic partners.
Critics contended that domestic partners can sign private contracts to accomplish many of the goals of the bill, and that it conflicted with the intent of Nevadans who voted in 2002 for a constitutional amendment supporting marriage between a man and a woman.
The measure states, among other things, that no “solemnization ceremony” is required and it’s “left to the dictates and conscience of partners entering into a domestic partnership” whether to have such a ceremony.
I don’t understand why some people are calling for CA to get on the same page as Nevada. While gay marriage isn’t legal in CA they still offer domestic partnerships, no?
So technically, CA is exactly the same as Nevada.
If you ask me, it’s still not good enough. Why are you all celebrating? Let’s get behind the federal lawsuit and forget about these demeaning half wins already, and let’s forget about Gay, Inc.’s slow and steady pace…
There was a focus on California because California seemed like such a likely place for gays to win marriage equality. We did…you know the rest.
Congratualtions to the Nevada Legislature! The lesson in this is that making life easier for some of your family–especially in such a bad economy–is a goodwill gesture that will be noticed.
This is a great step I don’t know if there is a referendum process there.
but it does point out that things are moving forward.
Cross your fingers on NH marriage.
And in the last few days, I’ve seen articles on how Pr Obama has appointed gay people to head 4 different gov groups.
He is doing a lot for gay folks. He can’t however just dictate and overthrow all the crap we got during Satan Bush’s years.
So lets PULLEESE stop bitching about him. He is trying to put the whole country together again, after the worst monster to inhabit the white house in the last 100 years.
I realize your frustrations. As a str8 long term married guy who has sunk at least $50k into gay civil rights groups over the last 5 years I hope I have the right to speak to the community
I too have been terribly frustrated by various events. Brought to us by people who use religion for hatred. As hitler did against my people
And the nightmare of my life – discovering that my brother isn’t gay, that his life has been ruined because the rumors he was gay drove my late parents to utter horror and embarassment. And he never got any help for his real problem – obsessive compulsive disorder.
A terrible shame for someone who was 4th in his class at Harvard, and a PHD at MIT.
You can imagine what I, no longer religious at all, still pray will happen to the leaders of the churches of hatred.
I’m not just being generous. I have a personal stake in the whole battle, which today is for all of you and those to come.
Stephen1553@gmail.com
Gibbons seems to be out of step with his
electorate.
And I wonder how many of those who say “Oh, you can just sign some legal documents and have most-but-not-all of the rights we married couples have” would be willing to legally divorce their spouse and refile as domestic partners instead…
The opponents say that people can sign contracts to effect the same results as the domestic partners legislation. Let’s just make everybody go though legal hoops to get almost what two drunken opposite-sexuals can get in five minutes at the Chapel of the Living Elvis in Nevada.
Boycotts do work! Tell your friends and family.
Well, it looks as though Governor Gibbon’s little lesson in hate and intollerance kind of backfired on him. And good stuff coming from the Nevada Assembly in overriding the Governor’s veto and proving that the Governor does not always have the last say! Time to use some of those air miles and take a trip to Las Vegas!
I am happy that the Nevada legislators did the right thing. I am happy that gay people threatened to boycott Nevada if they didn’t do the right thing. Money talks. Now, what I don’t understand is why gay people spend money in states like Florida, Louisiana, and South Carolina: states that are heavily dependent on gay tourism and yet have the most retrograde laws in the country. Why spend money in states whose people despise you?
Exactly, why is the focus so narrow to CA? Nevada granting domestic partnerships, and Illinois so close to granting civil unions. Why is this not getting more press?
Are you paying attention, California? Do you not know that breezes of change are gradually wafting through? Do you not know that this is occuring along your eastern state line in a very large neighboring state and that bit of equality in immediate neighbor to the east will only make your own GLBTs that much more hungry for the change they and their loved ones need?
CA, do you not sense that GLBT tourism dollars will begin to bypass you and go to Nevada instead?
I’ve been to Las Vegas and I just might go there again.
The best news in the past week so far.
Now if NH can get the marriage bill signed this week, we’ll start to feel some momentum again.
Well a big “I told you so” is in order here. Last week I told you all that this would overrode by lawmakers and it was.
So the threats to issue a boycott of Nevada can thankfully called off.
I am so proud of my state, and the bill also states that ALL CIVIL UNIONS AND DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIPS performed elsewhere will also be honored in Nevada!!! Yay!
I have to say that I did not see this coming. Everyone was worried what would happen across the country after the so-called ultra-liberal California voted to ban marriage equality and yet, we have continued to see a renewal of the equality spirit across the country, from Maine to Iowa to Nevada.