BREAKING NEWS: Phoenix City Council Approves Domestic Partner Registry

In a unanimous decision the Phoenix City Council an Phoenix mayor Phil Gordon approved a domestic partner registry. In the wake of Prop. 102 passing this is a victory that the LGBT community of Arizona needed. The registry will provide hospital visitation rights to unmarried couples whether same-sex or opposite sex. Special thanks to Council Member Tom Simplot, an openly gay council member,  for his work in making this happen.

The Human Rights Campaign released the following statement

Phoenix City Council Approves Domestic Partner Registry

Registry Will Provide Hospital Visitation Rights for Unmarried Couples

12/17/2008

WASHINGTON –The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights group, praised the Phoenix, Arizona City Council and mayor for voting today to enact a domestic partner registry for city residents.  The registry will permit unmarried couples to register as domestic partners and receive hospital visitation rights.  The registry, which will become effective February 9, 2009, will be available to both same-sex and different-sex couples.
 “Today, the city of Phoenix has begun to recognize what we have known for a long time – that our relationships are just as true, meaningful, and deserving of legal protections as anyone else’s,” said Human Rights Campaign Board of Directors member and Phoenix resident Linda Elliott.  “With this registry, we can feel confident that we can visit our loved ones in medical facilities at a time when they need us most.  We thank Mayor Phil Gordon, Councilman Tom Simplot and the entire city council for taking this step towards equality.”
Phoenix joins more than 70 other cities and counties nationwide with domestic partner registries. 

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against GLBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.