A lesbian couple on Friday became the
first to enter a civil union under Bisbee, Arizona's newly minted
law.
Kathy Sowden, 57, and Deborah Grier,
63, are the first couple recognized under the law, Reuters
reported.
The women, together 21 years and
co-owners of an antique store in town, paid $76 to receive their civil
union certificate.
“I guess it feels like it sort of
solidifies the relationship with the rest of the world. That's why
we did it – because it does give you another level of security
legally,” Sowden said.
Patting her heart, Grier added: “And
there's a little extra happiness in here.”
The city approved a more robust civil
unions bill in April. But after Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne
threatened to go to court to block its start, officials decided to
rewrite the measure. Horne said some provisions of the measure were
in conflict with state law. In particular, Arizona's 2008
voter-approved constitutional amendment defining marriage as a
heterosexual union.
The original version of the ordinance
granted couples in a civil union the same responsibilities and
benefits as married couples. That line has since been omitted. The
current ordinance states that couples may file contractual statements
in matters such as inheritances, property ownership and children.
Horne has said that he believes the new
measure now complies with state law.
Bisbee, a former mining
community-turned-artist's haven, is the first Arizona town to approve
civil unions for gay couples. Roughly three weeks ago, Tucson became
the second.
(Related: Tucson
unanimously approves civil unions for gay couples.)