So if you are living with someone for 6 months and split you get the benies? Not right...

The comment by the PATCH that "local domestic partner registries recognize same-sex marriages" Domestic Partner Registries (DPR), are not equal to marriage! A DPR only has approximately six benefits to registered partners; same-sex and heterosexual couples. However, a recognized marriage at the federal level confers over eleven hundred benefits, not the least of which are survivorship benefits and exemption from inheritance taxes. For example the 83 year old widow, Edie Windsor, was required to pay in excess of $300,000 in taxes because her legal spouse, also female, left her the home they shared for fourth plus years.
Pinellas County passing the DPR will benefit the county by bringing forward looking businesses into the area! While a DPR is far from equality, it is a start and the right thing to do.

Personally I do not understand all the uproar or why exactly anyone is so concerned with who someone is with or why it is bothersome to anyone that two people who love one another and are sharing a life together want EQUAL protection ...noone is asking for anything special or special rights, just EQUAL rights, how is that hurting anyone. I say let all couples live and peace and have the same rights and benefits afforded any couple.

do we want pro gay (LGBT) businesses in our community? have we gone that far from the beliefs & morals that founded our country? the DPR just encourages/promotes adultery (sex outside of marriage) & makes it too easy for people to walk are from kids since they do not have to be married to the other parent

Yes! Yes! Yes! There is absolutely no logical reason to not endorse same sex marriage and the benefits that same sex couples deserve. The same sex couples I know here in Dunedin have longer marriages than most others I know.

I think it's a grand idea. Many older citizens are living together without benefit of marriage due to pension and SSI benefits. This would give them some recognition and some benefits. Admittedly a paltry 6 compared to 1,100, but it's a start.

Go, Pinellas County, GO!

In response to Dan Presslers comment......How do you come to such a conclusion...it actually made me chuckle....to say it promotes adultery??? and makes it easy for people to walk away from the children?? Because we all know hetrosexual couples never walk away from the children right? And straight couples never commit adultery??
Society as a whole has always had moral issues, straight or gay....and just so you know, you probably have done or will do business with a gay person at some point in your life and just were not aware of it, and surprise you are still living your life....as I see it no one is asking for extra or special rights just some of the same rights afforded any married couple. How it would affect my life in any way shape or form, well that would be , none at all.....what our country was founded on has so gone by the wayside in so many ways and this is not one of them.

I'll keep it short...I believe in equality!!

The only thing these ordinances allow is for living together couples to be able to take advantage of the benefits of the partner when they don't have benefits of their own. Just like a married couple would. It'll muddy the waters because it's easier to break up if you're just living together , but it is fair for couples who deserve and need these benefits.

I am not sure how you think it makes it easier to break up?? I believe its just as easy for anyone to break up no matter what. It just all depends on the people involved, gay or straight , morals and sense of responsibility is with the individual, not with what rights they do or do not have. I have witnessed many couples break up, both gay and straight, and for some straigh or gayt, married or not married couples , some walked away very easily and some did not, as I said it depends on the individual.

Personally I don't know why such a big deal is being made about something which really isn't marriage? As y'all know we get a lot of snowbirds coming down from Canada every winter and gay marriage is legal there. I have asked my neighbors (and remember these are all people 70+) what they think about it. They have said it's not a big deal. It's in the Canadian Constititution which was modeled after the American one. The sky hasn't fallen, families haven't fallen apart, society is still in one piece, the Chuches haven't imploded, there's no increase in child molesting (which are arguments I have heard down here against it), 2 consenting adults of the same sex marry, and can divorce, they pay taxes, they collect each other's social security if the other one dies, and they have hospital visitation rights and make decisions. Good heck, this is the 21st century, I never thought I'd ever see an African American (ok he's 1/2) President in office, and if gays and lesbians actually want to get married, come on now. We have other things to worry about! A domestic partner registry? Give me a break. Just let people marry and be done with it.

AMEN...... REMEMBER IF YOU THINK ITS A SIN.......YOUR JUDGING IS JUST AS BIG OF A SIN.......NO SIN IS GREATER THAN ANOTHER..... CANT WE ALL JUST GET ALONG. I AM AN ADULT RAISED BY A MOTHER AND A FATHER THAT DIVORCED WHEN I WAS 2...... BOTH REMARRIED AND DIVORCED AGAIN........THEY ARENT GAY......THEY JUST WERENT HAPPY :( LET ME TELL YOU WHAT MESSES WITH A KID.......COURT......FOR WHO GETS WHAT....INCLUDING THE KIDS. SO WORRY ABOUT YOUR HOUSE PLEASE AND YOUR MARRIAGE SO THAT YOU CAN BETHE BEST AT WHAT EVER YOU ARE IN THAT RELATIONSHIP....AND PS WHO CARES IF WE ARE DOING BUSINESS WITH GAY PEOPLE....BRING IT ON THEY ARE SOMETIMES THE BEST SHOPPERS ;) <3

Sick of hearing about who sleeps with who . . .

smiling - first: please don't SHOUT - second: i too am a child of divorce & know how damaging that can be. What was an abomination to our founding fathers is still an abomination. True marriage makes it harder for parents to divorce & leave any kids unprovided for. one of the major purposes of marriage is to provide for children - gay couples can not produce children naturally, Florida has defined marriage as one man & one woman - this DPR is just a way to get around the intent of the law.

I lost my health ins when my husband of 25 years left to live with a tramp he met in a bar after 2 months...I lose my benies and she gets them? WRONG!

Folks, there is a website that offers info in this issue. Domesticpartnerregistry.com that offers information a d FACTS about whT a DPR is and is not. I encourage you to review it.

Seriously Dan Pressler?? Gay couples cannot produce children naturally?? Wow....Again I chuckle at your comments, you really should think things through before you speak, there are many straight couples who are unable to have children in what you call the "natural" way , so they also must find alternative methods, this issue does not just affect the gay community, and FYI there are many gay couples who have done it the "natural" way. I am still laughing.....

I am fairly sure that I know as many gay couples as I do "straight" couples and, as a whole, the gay couples have been together longer. My best friend and his partner have been together for almost 30 years now. In the meantime, they've been forced to carry 2 health insurance policies, had to buy their previous home in the name of a partnership and pay extra taxes in order to protect each other, not been able to make health care decisions for each other etc. etc. etc.
The DPR is about ANY couple; it takes the same legal process to create or undo regardless of your orientation. While I have few problems with a church refusing to bless a marriage, which is all a church ceremony is, I have BIG problems with the state refusing to recognize a legally constituted couple, again regardless of configuration. (I hate the word orientation).

FORWARD..........people......evolve. .....and accept! Happy 2013 and 21st century everyone-----:-)

There are many people out there with strong religious beliefs that dictate they not condone nor recognize various other types of people who differ from their given religious beliefs. While individual belief is a cornerstone in our society, it is quickly forgotten that this practice is to be held privately, such as in your home, church or place of worship. In the public realm we are tasked with coexisting in peace. While perfect harmony and equality are a myth due to our flaws as humans it is not an excuse to not aspire or try. Most religions require their patrons to be the "better man", if you will. We live in an age of technology that permits most to know the historical facts of mans history without relying on one religious accounting. Same sex marriage predates the organized church and was conducted openly in the church until 1100 AD and then we moved into the Dark Ages, really need I say more. Just because you or your religion does not like, condone or permit same sex marriage, should have no bearing on and should never have a bearing on the law of the land in America. The people who don't like it have the same rights as the people who do like it. If you condone it practice it, if you don't condone it don't practice it. Our Constitution is very clear that all are created equal and all have the same rights endowed by their creator. Not your creator for me or my creator for you. In fact, your creator for you and my creator for me. We are not Gods, we are humans act like it!

Of course Florida should allow domestic registry.

When two people love each other, and commit to a monagamous relationship, it does not matter what the gender of each committing party is.

Committed relationships merit the same governmental treatment, and insurance rights, and any other rights that employer give to different sex married couples.

As to the absurd comment by one poster above, I have a work colleague who has been in his committed relationship with another man for about eighteen years (and counting) and they adopted two girls from a Chinese orphanage eleven and nine years ago.

They are wonderful and loving parents, and the girls are doing splendidly.

My colleague and his male spouse (they were subsequently married when some states changed their laws) should have always had the same rights as my wife and I have.

Judge not, lest ye be judged, and the judgment be found wanting in you.

Under anti-misegenation laws, I could not have legally married Dan in some states until after 1967, when Loving vs. Virginia was decided. (Not that we could have married that young... but you see my point. or at least, everyone should).

When reviewing California's Proposition 8 (which restricted marriage to opposite-sex couples), Judge Vaughn R. Walker cited Loving v. Virginia to conclude that "the [constitutional] right to marry protects an individual's choice of marital partner regardless of gender". On more narrow grounds, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed.

For all the "ugh's" There are LEGAL ways to pass-on, share, make medical decisions or adopt children without dragging the whole of society into the pit of degradation of society without the pushing of a few to acceptance of perverse unnatural lifestyles.
Call an attorney and get whatever you want done legally, don't drag the rest of us down your rat hole!

What's next, marry your dog? Your sister, brother? Just heard today of a guy who donated his sperm to two lesbians, the females split and now he is ordered to pay child support even though he signed a contract and just donated sperm. Be careful what you wish for, there are alot of ramifications and stuff you haven't thought about.
Being celibate is the best way to roll. Avoid aids, kids, and a naging partner.

Mr King you really should not refer to Christians as being perverse!

michael d - there is extensive references to Christianity in the personal papers of many/most/all of the founding fathers - not surprising considering a majority of them were seminary educated. Even Jefferson, whose beliefs were rather unusual, believed in Christian Morals. Plus there is that little clause "We are endowed by our Creator (another title for God the Father) with certain unalienable rights....."

Dan, Creator may be another name for your god the father but may not be that for someone else hence the pure genius of the writers. We are a nation, not a christian nation. A nation of many not just WASP's and for the first time White men are permanently out numbered by women, and other races of people. Which in translation means democracy can finally begin. But hey, there is still plenty of land in South America to be had and dominated by mid-evil ideas. As for here, we are moving forward! Together! Wanna come? Great! If not, your loss!

Ed - do you realize "Forward" is the tag line of many socialist/marxist/communist groups. America was founded by Christians - look at the history of Jamestown, Plymouth Rock, Pennsylvania as some of the many examples of the Christian foundations of America. America is not a Democracy - it is a Republic. It is supposed to be a constitutional Republic but Obama & his Forward Crowd are ignoring laws & the constitution. If you want to live someplace other than the america I grew up in you are more than welcome to move someplace else as you seem to desire I do. There is no way on Gods green & shining planet that I would willingly join the immoral, atheistic, fiscally bankrupt society you seem to favor. By becoming the only country in the world that does not expect immigrants to adapt to the existing culture (I know we did not so that when we arrived but that is not a topic for this thread) we have become something less than what we were.

Dan, Happy New Year! I'll say a prayer for you. BTW we are all immigrants!

Domestic Partners, should only get what's theirs. Nothing more, nothing less. If you want to share 50/50, then get married. Same sex too! Who really gives a crap if they don't throw it in your faces, or flaunt it. Let's marry our pets too. Man you people should have better things to bitch about. Like income taxes! Let's get rid of that first, then we can worry about who lives with who or marries anyone!

Live & Let Live. Pass it.

Ed - I doubt your prayers are to my God or the God of the Founding Fathers. As I acknowledged - although obliquely - I know we are all either immigrants (or from immigrant ancestors. Even the 'native' Americans immigrated from Asia via the Bering straights but there were no natives here at that time.

Dan- Your insensitivity and unchristian like comments are only outdone by your historical ignorance. In fact actual history shows us the following: Historian Gregg L. Frazer argues that the leading Founders (Adams, Jefferson, Franklin, Wilson, Morris, Madison, Hamilton, and Washington) were neither Christians nor Deists, but rather supporters of a hybrid "theistic rationalism". Dan that study was done in 2012 and is very current and widely recognized by the Historical Community. We are but a nation of American people.

People should treat other person as equally. studentshelp.info

Absolutely Pinelas County should establish a Domestic Partner Registry. This will take nothing away from anyone, but will give peace of mind to domestic partners who will then have the same rights as married couples. Time to join the real world and stop being selfish.