Tuesday, June 19, 2007
A Lawrence city ordinance that would establish a domestic partnership registry, which would give homosexual couples the same legal recognition as married heterosexual couples, will by most expectations pass during its second reading on the city’s consent agenda during the city commission meeting Tuesday.
The ordinance, which is the first and only of its kind in Kansas, would allow homosexual partners to be recognized by the city as true couples.
Toni Wheeler, director of legal services for the city of Lawrence, said the ordinance passed during its first reading on the commission’s consent agenda on June 12, and if it passes on the second reading Tuesday, June 19, the ordinance will go into affect August 1.
She said the multiple readings are just the vehicle with which the city passes laws and that they allow the ordinances “a cooling off period,” she said.
Ashlynn Horras, communications director for Queers and Allies, said if the ordinance passed it would be a huge step for homosexual Kansas couples.
“It’s one step closer to the final measure of equal marriage,” said Horras, a sophomore from Knoxville, Iowa.
She said she was excited Lawrence was undertaking the ordinance and that it puts the city in the same category of equality as Iowa City, Iowa, another college town where a similar ordinance passed.
“Once people learn it’s not condoning homosexuality, that it’s about rights, it will be better,” she said.
Still, Horras said she was fearful the measure wouldn’t pass, but she remained hopeful because she said she knew that she would remain in Lawrence for at least three more years and could potentially register if she met the right person and stayed here.
“For me, it’s about rights,” Horras said. “If people don’t like it, it doesn’t matter to me. I don’t associate with those people.”
Though interest in the ordinance has been high, Wheeler said there was no way of knowing how many people would register. A fee for registering has not been set, although Wheeler said it would most likely fall somewhere between $20 and $50.
She also said the registry would probably be implemented online.
“People don’t have to line up at City Hall to register,” she said.
To ensure the ordinance wouldn’t conflict with state law, Wheeler said the city requested and received Attorney General Paul Morrison’s opinion on the legality of the issue.
Ashley Anstaett, communications director for Morrison’s office, said her office’s report wasn’t legally binding and that it was given merely to clarify any gray areas within the ordinance.
“The general idea was that because the registry offers no benefits, just a list, it is legal under state law,” Anstaett said.
Online versions of the commission’s agendas and the report from the attorney general’s office are available online at lawrenceks.org.
Kansan staff writer Tyler Harbert can be contacted at tharbert@kansan.com
— Edited by Joe Caponio
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