Two Ohio cities have approved domestic
partnership measures for gay and lesbian couples, Cleveland's Gay
People's Chronicle reported.
Dayton city commissioners on May 2
unanimously approved the creation of a domestic partnership registry,
becoming the sixth Ohio city to do so behind Cleveland, Toledo,
Yellow Springs, Cleveland Heights and Athens.
As with the five currently operating
registries, couples paying Dayton's $50 registry fee are guaranteed
no benefits whatsoever. Supporters, however, note that employers who
offer insurance benefits to the partners of gay workers accept
registration as proof of partnership.
Couples registering must live together.
The registry opens on June 1.
“This is another step in making
Dayton as welcoming as possible to all people,” Dayton Commissioner
Nan Whatley told the Dayton
Daily News.
With an 8-1 vote, Cincinnati City
Council approved domestic partner benefits for the city's gay
employees on the same day.
Chris Seelbach, the city's first openly
gay council member, told the Chronicle:
“It feels great. I'm very happy and proud of my colleagues that
they were willing to stand with me on this.”
Currently, the cities of Cleveland and
Columbus offer benefits to the domestic partners of employees.
Toledo Mayor Mike Bell recently proposed similar benefits.