Orange County, Fla., To Allow Domestic-Partner Registry

Lawmakers in Orange County, Florida, agreed Tuesday to broaden the scope of the domestic-partner registry currently in effect in the city of Orlando, which will extend certain benefits to unmarried gay and straight couples throughout the county.

The Orlando Sentinelreports that the agreement comes after several weeks of debate between advocates for gay rights and Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs, who two years ago publicly stated her opposition to same-sex marriage and adoption.

Before the final ordinance can be presented for a vote, however, there are a number of key issues to be resolved. But both sides are reportedly hopeful that this will happen later this year.

"We have the same goal in mind," the Sentinel quotes Jacobs as saying. "There should not be any problem."

The city of Orlando passed its ordinance allowing domestic-partner registry in December.

Read the full article here.