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Friday, September 2, 2011
SB 166: Domestic Partnerships Senate Bill doesn’t stand a chance in hell to be passed.
Posted by st at 4:55 AM
The Florida Legislature plagued with the curse of Republican-Teahadist majorities as well as a homophobic, insane extremist like our governor who would, if there was a sliver of a chance it would pass…
HE WOULD VETO IT!
Good news.
Longtime ally and champion of LGBT rights, State Senator Eleanor Sobel (D-Hollywood), filed a Senate Bill which will create a state Domestic Partnership registry for Florida and, importantly, adds “Partnership” as a relationship status option on state forms.
“We are delighted by Senator Sobel’s continued effort to win basic recognition and protection for our rights and relationships,” said Michael Kenny, Executive Director of Florida Together. “Even though our community does not have a track record of success in the Legislature, it’s important that our friends keep fighting for us.”
The Bill, (Senate Bill 166), is slated to be heard in the 2012 Legislative Session which will begin in months, early next year – in January – due to the redistricting process.
“A majority of Americans and Floridians support recognition for same-sex relationships," said Senator Sobel. "So many other Floridians are in long-term, unmarried relationships it no longer makes sense for the state to have just one category - married and everyone else."
Currently, through the hard and continued work of our member organizations and allies domestic partnership recognition exists in many communities throughout Florida. Florida Together and the more than 80 LGBT member organizations in Florida will continue to propose and support new and stronger registries at the local level as well as major policy change benefiting equality in Florida.
"I look forward to working with my colleagues and great advocates like Florida Together to help Florida take this needed step forward." Sobel said. "All Floridians deserve to be recognized and counted."
“Having a bill filed is a long, long way from creating law,” Kenny said. “But as they say, even the longest journey begins with a first step and we are proud to have Senator Sobel start this journey with us and for us.”
To learn more about Senate Bill 166, including reading the bill, visit:
http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2012/0166
