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twitterBill would give gays same rights as married couples
Monday, March 16, 2009 | 4:10 p.m.
Sen. David Parks
Sun archives
CARSON CITY -- Gay couples could have the same rights and responsibilities as married couples, under a bill introduced in the state Senate.
Senate Bill 283, sponsored by Sen. David Parks, D-Las Vegas, calls for a new type of civil contract for domestic partnerships, under which domestic partners would have the same rights, protections and benefits as spouses, former spouses, widows or widowers.
Parks, who is gay, said Monday, “A domestic partnership is a social contract between two persons who have chosen to share one another’s lives in an intimate and committed relationship.” It is not a marriage as defined in the Nevada Constitution.
These domestic partners would register with the Secretary of State. They would be required to file proof with the Secretary of State they have a common residence, neither is married, are not related by blood, must be at least 18 years old and competent to consent to the domestic partnership.
“Domestic partners have the same right to nondiscriminatory treatment as that provided to spouses,” says the bill.
Besides the benefits, there would be mutual responsibility for debts to third parties, the right to see financial support if the partners split up and the rights of community property.
Domestic partnerships could be dissolved through the filing of a form with the secretary of state.
A simplified split could be accomplished if the couple: was registered for five years or less; had no children; have no community property or the couple has agreed on a division of the property and the parties had waived or reached an agreement on financial support.
On the same day Parks’ bill was introduced, however, the Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor delayed a hearing on Senate Bill 207 to give further protection from discrimination based on sexual orientation in public accommodation.
Current law allows a person who feels he has been discriminated against in public accommodation based on race, color, religion, national origin or disability to file a complaint with the Nevada Equal Rights Commission.
This bill would extend the right to file a complaint with the commission if the person feels he has been discriminated against based on sexual orientation.
Sen. Maggie Carlton, chairwoman of the committee, said there have been “some problems with what the bill is trying to accomplish.” She did not elaborate.
Cy Ryan may be reached at (775) 687 5032 or cy@lasvegassun.com.
Discussion: 26 comments so far…
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Correct me if I'm wrong, but since the US doesn't allow gay marriage, let alone domestic partnerships, I'm guessing that this bill is basically opening the door for something. You can't take a tax deduction on your federal return if you're not married, and we don't have income taxes in Nevada, so that won't fly either. So it would seem the intent of this bill is only to put another discrimination clause in the law. Nothing more. So if you go to the Eagle on U/W night, you will be protected. And that's all right with me....
So the mafia failed in California, Nevada will see their Prop 8. Time to stop this now!!!!!
"Domestic partnerships could be dissolved through the filing of a form with the secretary of state."
Not so fast. These people want rights? They will need to do like everyone else, DIVORCE COURT!. Not to worry, 'family court' is a wonderful place to spend a few days.
equal rights, right?
GotJobs:
If I had the ability to legally *marry* the woman I love, I'd be fine with being required to go to family court if we needed to dissolve our marriage.
Finally some good news, in the news. This plan is positive and healthy for Gay people who want to be together and have legal rights. I am sure all the homophobes will rant and rave about this and the Bible and so on, but the bottom line is that everyone deserves to have rights, not just the elite. Gay people pay taxes, and are members of the community and they deserve to have rights. I applaud the proposal and hope it passes. I really hope we can be spared the usual Bible thumping speeches and homophobia, but I guess it is human nature to try and keep one sector of people down.
bdover -- you're wrong. Congress has no authority to make any laws about marriage itself. That's exclusively up to the states.
feed _ pigeon -- what "mafia"? Nevada has had it's "Prop. 8" and regrettably added it to the Constitution in 2002.
What exactly are you proposing needs to be "stopped"?
gotjobs -- you almost took the words out of my mouth. Remember all -- the leading cause of divorce is marriage! A couple have far more rights without letting themselves being suckered into that 3-way contract with the state.
Yes, b(en)dover, the US does not but as many have decreed, it is a state's right issue. There are two other facts here: it isn't marriage and gay families aren't going away. To create a legal bond that validates a gay family, that gives security to a gay relationship should be supported by all Nevadans.
Hello Killer! I missed you so much! :) I can't believe that we actually agree about something and I really thought that pigs would be flying outside. I actually did miss arguing with you Killer, I do admire how you always speak your mind. I may not agree with you, but at least you offer a different perspective on different issues. Storm
Well its about time! They should have the right to screw up there lives like the rest of us. I have wondered for years what the big deal is with homophobes not wanting gays to have equal rights. This sort of thing should have been settled in the 60's like other civil rights issues. This could be a big money making scheme for Nevada we already have elvis marrying people now he can marry the gays also.
It's about time.
Nevada can't afford to throw any money to the gays. The school system wants it all. Try again, in about 10 years.
Hey, TransAmi1986, last time it was Protect Marriage, now you say it's about money. Talk about moving the goal posts.
That's unAmerican.
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but since the US doesn't allow gay marriage, let alone domestic partnerships, I'm guessing that this bill is basically opening the door for something. You can't take a tax deduction on your federal return if you're not married, and we don't have income taxes in Nevada, so that won't fly either."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Okay you are corrected. You are wrong. There is nothing that outlaws either at the US level. Even the DOMA all it says is that states have the rights to decide for themselves what to do and no federal benefits. Both are states level rights. What this does has really nothing to do with taxes per say. It helps to extend many of the other rights, such as medical visitation, rights of inheritance, etc. there are domestic partner registries in many states across the US.
The way "allow" is used here shows a lot of you here are clueless how our republic REALLY works.
No government can rightfully deny any person equal protection, rights or privileges others enjoy. The fact it's being done shows how far off its leash we've allowed government to stray. One of the functions of government is to protect minorities from the tyranny of the majority. Instead government often does the opposite.
To the opponents it's a moral issue, based largely on the Bible and the herd mentality encouraged from pulpits. Remove morality and religion from the equation and the whole picture becomes very clear -- ANY two (or more) people who consent to such a commitment are then entitled to enjoy equal rights, etc.
One of the biggest evils involved rarely mentioned is licensing this fundamental right. Somewhere in our history the people bought into that falsehood the state should be allowed to license these unions. The resulting evil is the state then became a party to the marriage contract, controlled it, and the meat grinder divorce industry grew out of it.
People, we must regain respect for individual privacy. Our intimate relationships are none of the state's business, and the state cannot rightfully deny those relationships equal protection, and so on.
Hey Killer B, Domestic Partners aren't in the Bible. It isn't Marriage so don't even thing about a book thumping argument.
VegasT-Room -- The Bible is irrelevant here. It has nothing valid to add to this debate. It defined nothing in either the founding documents of this state nor is it truly persuasive at all to current law.
If your Bible is what defines your conclusions on this issue, why is polygamy outlawed?
VegasTeaRoom:
Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from these types of discussion and I try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind him that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate.
I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the specific laws and how to best follow them.
a) When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord (Lev 1:9). The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
b) I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
c) I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness (Lev 15:19-24). The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.
d) Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?
e) I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?
f) A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an Abomination (Lev 11:10), it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this?
g) Lev 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?
h) Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev 19:27. How should they die?
i) I know from Lev 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?
j) My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? (Lev 24:10-16) Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)
I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help.
Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.
Keep on rocking in the free world starrynite. I needed some levity before the St. Pat's festivities.
I'm sure you could've found some more of those gems, but I'm also sure that time and space restricted it.
Please enlighten us with more of your Christian moral quandries.
Isn't there also a passage about not wearing the opposite sex's clothes? So are the bagpipers on St. Pat's day supposed to die?
And as for Halloween, am I supposed to quiver in my house in fear of Satan, or do I need to gas up the chainsaw and load up the shotgun for some good old fashioned spiritual cleansing?
I am against gay marriage for different reasons than the bible-abusers or homophobes use (I think it sets up a "special class"). I am completely for punishing people who commit hate crimes, although I hate broccoli.
I don't think establishing a "special class" will help.
It would be easier to amend some of our other stupid laws.
Examples; contracts, partner co-signs making them just as culpable; hospitals, ease up on stupid hippa laws; as for a "alimony" clause again refer to contract laws.
Simple, yet easier to ennact than a law that has to pass the bible-abuser/homophobe test.
starrynite -- good one!!
redferret -- don't forget them evil witches, U.S. precedent says we get to burn them at the stake after using the dunking test.
getalife -- no law needs to pass the test you propose. That's legislating sin and morality, outside their jurisdiction, though that's not a bar to passing stupid laws. Anti-sodomy laws still on the books of some states had to be dealt with by the high courts even in this century.
It is illegal to drive a camel on the highway.
It's still "legal" to hang someone for shooting your dog on your property.
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Thank you, Senator Parks.
This is a step in the right direction.
I say live and let live. It's not my business who another person chooses to be with. I know a guy who's had the same 'partner' for over 30 yrs. How many men and women stay together that long? I really don't know why anyone concerns themselves with someone elses sexual preference.
People need to tend to their own marriage (50%divorce rate and all) and stop worrying about others.