St. Paul, Minnesota, Approves Domestic Partnerships

The city council of St. Paul, Minnesota, joined two other cities in that state in approving a resolution to extend domestic partnerships on July 22.

An article in the Pioneer Press from that same day, which was carried at TwinCities.com reported that neighboring state Wisconsin had approved a state-wide domestic partnership measure; that legislation has already come under attack from anti-gay group Wisconsin Family Action, who say that the domestic partnership provision violates a constitutional amendment barring marriage equality for gay and lesbian families in that state.

The law is slated to go into effect in Wisconsin next month.

Meantime, in the Minnesota city, gay residents were thrilled.

The article quoted 61-year-old Dan Hanson as saying that the city-wide provision would be "a nice legitimate step."

Added Hanson's life partner of 32 years, Keith Grennier, also 61, "It's a steppingstone."

The city's mayor, Chris Coleman, was prompt in signing the resolution and making it official.

Said Mayor Coleman, "Equality is equality is equality.

"You can't have equality for some and not for others."

The article quoted Council Member David Thune, who cosponsored the measure, as saying, "Welcome to St. Paul, the city of family values."

The new domestic partnership measure is open to all couples, regardless of sexuality.

The actual benefits conferred by the measure may be seriously limited, however; Minnesota law denies health coverage to unwed partners, the article noted, making the measure a local version of marriage equality, which is legal in six U.S. states but, under the 1996 "Defense of Marriage" Act, cannot be accorded any federal recognition.

Noted Mayor Coleman, "This is a nice step ... but it is not enough," the article reported.

Even so, residents of the city expressed appreciation for the consideration shown them by their city government.

The article quoted 25-year-old C. J. Griffiths, who said, "I think it's a really good symbolic St. Paul gesture. That's as far as it goes."

The article noted that the resolution was passed through a unanimous vote.

Moreover, a public hearing did not draw any opponents to the measure when it was convened last week, the article noted.

Minneapolis and Duluth also offer domestic partnerships to gay and lesbian families, with Minneapolis having adopted the measure in 1991; Duluth followed suit last month. Several other Minnesota cities have similar resolutions pending, the article said.

Minnesota state law, while denying gay and lesbians full family equality, does provide its GLBT citizens legal protection against bias crimes and discrimination.