Tampa’s Domestic Partnership Registry…

…  received the City Council’s initial approval on Thursday, March 15, 2012 in a 5-0 vote, giving both heterosexual and same-sex couples a few more rights as far as being able to plan for their loved ones medical care in an emergency situation and even their funeral, if needed.

    A final vote is set for April 5, and that vote is expected to pass also.

Tampa Bay Times

The ordinance creating the registry says that nothing about it "shall be construed as recognizing or treating a domestic partnership as a marriage," and its City Council sponsor said it's not meant as a step toward legalizing gay marriage.

Rather, Yvonne Yolie Capin said, the registry is designed to help ensure that couples can visit each other in the hospital, make medical decisions and funeral arrangements for their loved ones and be informed when a partner has been in an accident.

    This topic caught my eye because I have recently had to endure the bullshit that a partner has to put up with when their other half has a major trauma and you aren’t considered a “ family member “ by hospital personnel, or by certain family members. 

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