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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.
Yes, Governor, because you are the state that promotes compulsive gambling, excessive drinking, and legal prostitution. Why would you want anything as immoral as gay people having rights.
This is two Legislatures now that have overturned vetoes. We hear about those activist Judges but it looks like the Governors have taken that role over. Only to be squished like the bugs that they are.
Most of the people in Nevada are Mormons… boy… next door in Utah, the church leaders must be besides themselves over Nevada giving gay folks a few rights…
They will, no doubt, fund an effort to override the legislature some how..
Yay!…that makes Nevada the ninth state to offer civil unions or domestic partnerships (all varying in the number of rights granted)…add in the five states in which gay marriage is legal and the fact that New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey and eventually (fingers crossed) California will all hopefully follow, are collectively making a strong statement that inequality will not be tolerated…i love where this amazing country of ours is heading!
To everyone who says CA needs to get on the same page, they already are! CA domestic partnership law grants identical rights at marriage. I expect these half wins actually hurt us, since, as the CA Supreme Court said… only the word marriage was limited, not the rights.
THANK YOU to the NV Assembly! This is awesome!
WOW… the change is happening…
Activists in Nevada have much reason to celebrate. They’ve won a difficult battle in a very conservative and very Mormon state.
However, that California is exactly the same as Nevada should not be taken a point of pride by Californians. After all, the Golden State fancies itself as the most progressive, innovative, and creative of all the states. A title that it has neither earned nor deserves by birthright. Between Prop. 8 passing, Miss California, the cowardly State Supeme Court, and clueless politicians like Schwarzenegger, Pelosi, et al — it is hard to imagine what justifies the “we’re so much more progressive than thou” smugness that so many San Franciscans and Angelenos still exhibit.
@Ben–if you were right, then Connecticut wouldn’t have marriage equality, because there would’ve been no grounds for people to sue over the failure of a wide spectrum of society to recognize civil unions/DPs–including the state of Connecticut itself.
The difference between Nevada and Cali is that Nevada’s legislature is very clear on what they’re not doing. Nevada is NOT “there” yet, but their legislators helped move it along by overriding the gov’s veto. California is in desperate face-saving mode, and it’s doomed to fail. What does the law really require Sutter Health to do re: gay patient’s rights? Gays aren’t married, and Sutter’s not a public agency, so right now the law DOES NOT directly require Sutter Health to treat gays and str8s the same. Don’t tell me I’m wrong–watch the Superior Court dockets across the state. I’m not singling out Sutter, I’m using them as just one easily-recognized business in California.
Ben, if you wanted to argue a more conservative side, then do you realize how much money business will spend on litigation–money that won’t go into expansion, that may even result in job losses. Businesses operate within the law, and fuzzy crap like civil unions/DPs is questionable–does the business have to recognize it or not? You work in California but you were on a company site in Arkansas when your hsuband/partner died? Arkansas says you can pound salt. Your piece of paper means nothing because your civil union/DP doesn’t exist in Arkansas law. This happens thousands and thousands of times over.
Ben, stop appeasing and act like you got a set.
OK, guess I was pessimissitic lastweek after hearing about prop 8 still standing that very same day Nevada’s governer vetoed the bill among otherthings. This is great news!
To SteveMD2:
Thank you for your thoughts. I understand your past experiences and pain. I only regret your feeling a need to justify your comments. Support for equal rights (gay or straight, religious or nonreligious, etc.) should be welcomed and accepted from all peoples.
Paul: We’re making such a “big deal” about this, because every single “little step” needs to be celebrated, if for no other reason than to acknowledge and thank the people whose herculean efforts created the “no big deal” success. Yes, in the large scheme of things, it isn’t what we want or are due, but positive little steps should always be praised.
Congratulations to the Nevada Casino’s for saving their asses! While this probably wouldn’t have happened in a state that has more than one major industry, based on disposable income, it at least shows how purchasing power and the threat of a boycott can work in our favor.
As for all the California comments, not only did the legislature TWICE pass marriage bills, the Supreme Court also voted for us (until, sadly, the law itself was taken out of their hands)and California still has the most comprehensive Civil Unions/Domestic Partnership law in the country. The same exact rights as married couples, just not the term marriage. In fact, it was because of this that Prop 8 managed to pass at all. Had Prop 8 actually taken away any of our legal rights it never would have passed. It was “the people” who messed us up, not the legislature. So don’t start spending your money elsewhere just yet. It’s a huge, important state and after losing by such a slim margin we need not stir up a hornets nest while trying to garner good will for 2010.