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Wednesday, August 1, 2007

History is made in Kansas



Lisa Miller and Pat Phillips made history today by becoming one of the first couples to register as domestic partners in Kansas. Sitting in the Lawrence City Commission meeting room, the couple filled out the online form and paid the $75 fee.

The room was packed this morning at 10 with happy couples -- both same-sex and heterosexual-- along with newspaper and TV cameras, reporters, supporters and city and state officials. I was thrilled to attend. What a happy day this was for all. To top it off, there wasn't a single protester either outside or inside City Hall.

In the first photo, Pat and Lisa concentrate on filling out the online form. In the second, Pat celebrates their registration. The couple has been together for 12 years.

"Some marriages don't last 12 years," Pat told me. "This is the first thing I've done where I feel accepted openly."

Within the first half hour of the registry being open, 12 couples had already registered.

More photos coming soon.

By the way, photographers don't need to worry about their jobs. I somehow succeeded in fuzzing up most of the photos, but more are coming soon.

The registry -- the first in the state -- was made possible by the efforts of the Lawrence/Douglas County Chapter of the Kansas Equality Coalition.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Congratulations!!!! I am so happy to see that Kansas recognize you by who you are. Wishing you many years of a considerate, loving and caring relationship.

Israel
Long Beach, CA

Diane Silver said...

Izzy, thanks so much for your wonderful comment. We are happy. Now it's on to the next step towards fairness.