Laughter & smiles light up Lawrence City Hall as domestic partner registry launches

Top: Steve Maceli, owner of Maceli's in Lawrence, and his partner, John Connolly, a board member of the Lawrence/Douglas Chapter of the Kansas Equality Coalition, finally get a chance to register their partnership with the city.

Bottom: Some of the crowd at City hall this morning.

Photos by Tom Witt

More on the opening of the domestic partner registry

The Rev. Patrick Rogers, pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church of Topeka, attended the event to provide support and celebrate the opening of the registry. Rev. Rogers recently moved to Topeka from Houston.

Remember, you don't have to go to City Hall to register. If you are a resident of Lawrence, meet the other criteria, and pay the fee (have your credit card handy), you and your partner can register online.

Domestic partner registry brings smiles to Kansas

Top: Lori Messinger, a board member of the Lawrence/Douglas Chapter of the Kansas Equality Coalition, has a bit of a funny look on her face (blame the photographer, which would be me), but she is exceedingly happy. Lori had a busy day, talking to reporters and participating in this Lawrence Journal-World chat about the new registry. Lori teaches at the School of Social Welfare at KU.

Bottom: Lori and Linda Luckey, another local Equality Coalition board member, organized today's event in honor of the Aug. 1 start of Lawrence's domestic partner registry. Linda works at KU and is the wife of Peter Luckey, senior pastor of Plymouth Congregational Church. The downtown Lawrence church was organized in 1854, and was the first church established in what was then the Kansas Territory.

Officials help with domestic partner celebration

[updated 6:05 p.m. to add detail and names]

Top Photo: Sen. Marci Francisco, D-Lawrence, right, hands out chocolates to the joyful couples. Marci is a great soul and a fantastic senator. You can certainly call her a full-service lawmaker! The good senator said she and her husband were driving back from a Democratic Leadership Council event in Nashville, Tenn., recently when they stopped at a Russell Stover store. She spotted the heart shaped boxes, bought a bunch and only later realized that they would make perfect gifts for today's newly registered couples.

Bottom Photo: Lawrence Mayor Sue Hack, left, who provided one of the all important votes for the registry, stands with Natalya Lowther at this morning's registrations. Natalya testified in favor of the registry during the city hearings on the proposal. The City Commission eventually voted 4-1 for the registry.

Celebrating just a tiny bit of fairness at Lawrence City Hall today

From left to right, Sen. Marci Francisco, a very weird looking blogger (ah, that's me), Lawrence Mayor Sue Hack, Donna Swall (seated) and Forrest Swall. Donna and Forrest are long-time supporters of fairness and equal rights for lesbians and gays. They're among the movers and shakers in PFLAG in Douglas County.

Photo by Tom Witt

By the way, KCTV 5 has video posted of the event.

Lawrence domestic partner registry prompts City Hall celebration

[updated 5:50 p.m.]
Here are just some of the couples who registered today.

Top: Joyce Shontz and Danita Long have been a committed couple for 6 years. In the background are Tom Witt, state chair of the Kansas Equality Coalition, talking to a reporter. Tom is in the brown suit. Joyce, by the way, is a former president of her church board of directors. Danita teaches in the congregation's Sunday school.

Middle: Jessica Pierson, left, and Jen Humphrey, right, took some time off from work to register.

Bottom: Mike Silverman, left, and Dave Greenbaum, right, have been together for more than a decade.

Neither these photos or any of the others I've posted give a sense of the number of people who crammed into the room. The Equality Coalition had lined up four couples to register, but others kept coming.

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.

Kansas takes its first baby step towards fairness for all families

Join the Kansas Equality Coalition at 10 a.m. at City Hall this morning to see the first domestic partners register. This is the state's first, baby step toward providing fairness under the law to all families, including those headed by same-sex partners.

I'm looking forward to being there this morning, and I expect to post photos later today.

The registry only allows same-sex partners to prove their relationships and, thus, gain access to benefits already offered by their employers. It also shows that the city of Lawrence is welcoming to all.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports:

Theresa Shireman said the registry more than anything else is a sign of what the city stands for.

“I think it is an important thing for Lawrence to do,” said Shireman, who is raising a son with her partner, Jill Kuhnheim. “We were at a position where we were thinking about moving into Kansas City. These kind of things make an important difference in our decision.

“It is really about the community saying we accept all different types of families here, and we value diversity.”

The Associated Press story is here.

If you are a Lawrence resident and in a committed same-sex or heterosexual relationship, you can now register online at the city web site. The fee is $75. The city has also posted an FAQ on the registry. Here's a direct link to the registration form.

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PHOTO: Here's a small bit of a "horrific" scene that opponents of domestic partner registries want to keep you from seeing. Click on the link to see the full photo. Of course, whether or not there is a registry or partner rights or civil unions or even marriage for same-sex couples, there will always be -- as there always have been -- families headed by lesbian and gay couples. By depriving these families of any legal recognition, the radical right is depriving children of security.

Mark Your Calendar! It's five days to the start of Kansas' first domestic partner registry

At 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 1, couples will gather at the Lawrence City Hall to become the first to register as domestic partners in the state of Kansas.

Registry will be done via computers in the City Commission room on the first floor. The fee is $75.

Now couples -- both same-sex and straight -- will be able to gain access to health insurance and other benefits already offered by their employers. This is just one of the advantages of being able to legally prove a domestic partner relationship.

Kudos and huzzahs to the Kansas Equality Coalition for winning approval of this important registry. The Equality Coalition has more detail on its web site.

Republican vows to stop Lawrence's new domestic partner registry

To no one's surprise, Rep. Lance Kinzer said today he will once again try to ban domestic partner registries statewide.

Lawrence's new registry goes into effect Aug. 1 for both same-sex and heterosexual couples. Even if he succeeds, Kinzer couldn't get the Legislature to pass a ban until the session starts in January. If that happens, a victory by Kinzer would demolish a registry that would already have been functioning for months. A victory by Kinzer would declare null and void the registrations of many couples.

The bill by the Olathe Republican was approved last session by a committee in the House. However, it never made it to a vote of the full House. The ban would have to be passed by the House and then get through a Senate committee and the full Senate before going to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius for her signature. Sebelius has not said whether or not she would sign such a bill.

A domestic partner registry does nothing more than allow couples to access benefits their employers already offer to them. It is nothing more revolutionary than a list of names. Kansas Attorney General Paul Morrison has already said that Lawrence's registry is constitutional, even with the state ban on same-sex marriage.

If you want to be part of stopping Kinzer's attempt to keep Lawrence couples from getting insurance and other benefits, join the Kansas Equality Coalition and become a part of the fight for fairness.

What's next for Lawrence's domestic partner registry

Both the mundane and, let's say, the profane are expected in the next few months now that the Lawrence City Commission has passed a domestic partner registry.

First up will probably be the mundane. The registry is supposed to go into effect on Aug. 1. The city still needs to determine an exact fee and set up the web site that partners will use to register. As soon as I have details, I'll post them and a link to the registration site. You can read the ordinance here.

What may be profane -- or what dictionary.com calls "common or vulgar" -- is an expected attempt to stop the registry. The Lawrence/Douglas County Chapter of the Kansas Equality Coalition has been hearing for months that someone (don't know who) plans to file an injunction to block implementation of the registry.

This may well happen, but right now I'm personally a bit uncertain it will. Although the battle was long and hard and took a ton of work, the opposition proved itself to be fairly toothless by the time the whole thing was over. On the other hand, it never pays to underestimate the commitment of our opponents.

I'm more concerned, though, about a renewed attempt in the Kansas Legislature to pass a bill banning domestic partner registries throughout the state. Introduced by Olathe Republican Lance Kinzer, the bill was passed by an ultra-conservative House committee last session.

When the Legislature goes back into session in January, Kinzer's bill could go to a quick vote by the full House, which is largely conservative. The bill would still have to pass the more moderate Senate, but I would prefer that we never have to engage in that fight.

Kansas Equality Coalition Chair Thomas Witt reminds us that "the work is not done," and he's right.

I propose a short break for everyone to catch their breath, and then renewed commitment to the fight. One important way to get involved is to become a member of the Equality Coalition. It only costs $15.

Becoming a member not only provides financial support for the group, but it also proves to decision makers that everyday voters support our goals. The truth is that many do, but our opinions have often been drowned out by the screams of the religious right.

BREAKING NEWS: The 1st domestic partner registry in Kansas history is law

[updated 7:19 p.m.]

The Lawrence City Commission just took it's third and final vote on the registry. As before, the ordinance passed 4-1. This is historic.

There was no discussion. The whole thing was over with in less than 5 minutes.

For the first time in Kansas history, same-sex couples have a means of getting public acknowledgment of their relationships. This is not a symbolic gesture. This means that domestic partners will have access to health insurance and other benefits offered by their partners' employers.

The registry goes into effect Aug. 1. Details on the new registry can be found in the approved ordinance. The registry is open to both same-sex and heterosexual couples, but is only available to residents of Lawrence. Couples will register online and pay a fee, which has not yet been determined.
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[update]

Even though tonight's vote was over in minutes, it took months of grassroots effort to win the registry. Kudos to Maggie Childs and the rest of the Lawrence Chapter of the Kansas Equality Coalition. You did very well indeed!

The final vote on the Lawrence domestic partner registry is tomorrow

This is it: Tuesday night the Lawrence City Commission is expected to take the final vote to create Kansas' first domestic partner registry.

The meeting starts at 6:35 p.m. at Lawrence City Hall, 6 East 6th St. One more time, we need to go to the meeting to support the proposal. The discussion and vote should be near the beginning of the meeting.

The Kansas Equality Coalition expects the proposal to be pulled off the consent agenda by Commissioner Mike Amyx. If he doesn't do that, he can't vote against it. With the proposal off the consent agenda, the Commission could, once again, hear comments on it. However, I doubt that Mayor Sue Hack will provide much if any time for testimony. Both sides have had ample time to speak and contact the commissioners.

We seem to be retaining our 4-1 margin on the Commission, which means the domestic partner registry should finally become official Tuesday night. If all goes as expected, this will be a huge victory for fair treatment under the law in Lawrence.

The city expects to start offering the registry online Aug. 1. A fee will be charged, but the amount of the fee has not been announced yet.

Here is the full text of the registry ordinance.

Lawrence domestic partner registry final ordinance

Here is the full, final version of the ordinance that the Lawrence City Commission will vote on Tuesday night. If approved, this becomes the law in Lawrence on Aug. 1, 2007.

This is available on the city web site, but you have to download the entire meeting packet to get it.

-------------------------
ORDINANCE NO. 8120

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF LAWRENCE, KANSAS ESTABLISHING A DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP REGISTRY; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO DEVELOP PROCEDURES FOR THE REGISTRY


NOW THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED BY THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF LAWRENCE, KANSAS:

Section 1. Chapter 10, Article 2, of the Code of the City of Lawrence, Kansas, 2006 Edition, and amendments thereto, is hereby enacted to read as follows:

10-201 DOMESTIC PARTNER DEFINED.

Whenever used in this Article, “domestic partner” shall be construed to mean two individuals who are residents of the City of Lawrence, as defined in Section 10-202, who have reached 18 years of age, who have the mental capacity to contract, and who live together in a relationship of indefinite duration, with a mutual commitment in which the partners share the necessities of life and are financially interdependent. Domestic partners are not married to another person, do not have another domestic partner and are not related by blood more closely than would bar their marriage in this state.

10-202 RESIDENT DEFINED.

For the purpose of registering a partnership with the City of Lawrence under this Article, a “resident” shall mean a person who has established at least 60 consecutive days prior to filing a Declaration of Domestic Partnership with the office of the City designated by the City Manager, a present and fixed residence within the city limits of Lawrence, Kansas where the person intends to remain for an indefinite period and to which the person intends to return following absence.

10-203 CRITERIA FOR ESTABLISHING A DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP.

The following criteria must be met for two individuals to be considered domestic partners for the purposes of registering the partnership with the City of Lawrence:

(A) Both individuals are residents of the Lawrence, Kansas as defined in Section 10-202.

(B) Both individuals share a common permanent residence. It is not necessary that the legal right to possess the common residence be in both of the individual’s names;

(C) Both individuals agree to be in a relationship of mutual interdependence;

(D) Both individuals contribute to the maintenance and support of the household. The individuals are not required to contribute equally to the household.

(E) Neither individual is married to a third individual or a member of a domestic partnership with a third individual;

(F) Each individual is 18 years of age or older;

(G) Each individual has the mental capacity to contract;

(H) The two individuals are not related by blood in a way that would prevent them from being married to another in this State; and

(I) Both individuals agree to file a Declaration of Domestic Partnership with the City pursuant to this article.

10-204 REGISTRATION.

(A) Two persons seeking to register as domestic partners may complete and file a Declaration of Domestic Partnership with an office of the City designated by the City Manager.

(B) No individual who has previously filed a Declaration of Domestic Partnership in this City may file a new Declaration of Domestic Partnership until at least ninety (90) days after the date that a Request for Removal from the Domestic Partnership Registry was filed with the City under this article. This prohibition does not apply if the previous domestic partnership ended because one of the partners died.

10-205 REMOVAL FROM REGISTRY UPON DEATH OR VOLUNTARY DISSOLUTION OF PARTNERSHIP.

(A) A domestic partnership registered with the City shall be removed from the registry in accordance with this Section:

(1) Reasons for removal from registry:

(a) One of the partners dies and the City is notified thereof; or

(b) A Request for Removal from the Domestic Partner Registry has been filed by one or both of the individuals registered as domestic partners with the City or

(2) Procedure for removal from registry:

(a) Within ninety (90) days of the dissolution of the domestic partnership, at least one former partner shall file a Request for Removal from the Domestic Partner Registry with an office of the City designated by the City Manager pursuant to procedures adopted by the City Manager. Upon receipt, the City shall provide the domestic partner who filed the Request for Removal from the Domestic Partner Registry with two copies of the Request marked “filed.” Unless the partners jointly file the Request, the partner filing the Request, shall within five days send a copy of the filed Request to the other partner’s last known address. This notice requirement does not apply if the removal request is due to a death of one of the domestic partners.

(b) The request shall be effective upon filing the Request for Removal from the Domestic Partner Registry with the City by one or both partners or on the date of the death of one.

(c) A former domestic partner who has given a copy of the Declaration of Domestic Partnership to any third party to qualify for any benefit or right and whose receipt of that benefit or enjoyment of that right has not otherwise terminated, shall notify the third party in writing of the Request for Removal from the Domestic Partner Registry, at the last known address of the third party.

(d) Failure to provide third-party notice required in Section 10-205(A)(2)(c) shall not delay or prevent the removal of the domestic partnership from the registry. The City shall have no duty to provide notice to third parties.

10-206 REMOVAL FROM REGISTRY FOR FAILURE TO MEET DEFINITION OF DOMESTIC PARTNER.

If it appears based upon a preponderance of the evidence that one or both of the partners in a registered domestic partnership no longer meets the definition of a domestic partner under this article, the City shall, after notice and an opportunity to be heard, remove the partnership from the Registry. The City Manager shall develop procedures for the implementation of this Section.

10-207 REGISTRATION.

(A) The City Manager shall develop procedures and standard forms for the “Registration of Domestic Partnership” and “Notice of Removal from the Domestic Partnership Registry.”

(B) The City Manager, or his or her designee, shall determine a reasonable fee based upon the cost of processing the forms and the City shall charge these fees to the persons filing a Declaration of Domestic Partnership. No fee shall be charged for filing a Request for Removal from the Domestic Partnership Registry.

(C) The City shall maintain the registry based upon the information provided by the individuals filing the Declaration of Domestic Partnership. The City shall have no duty to independently verify the information provided by the individuals filing the Declaration of Domestic Partnership.

10-208 LEGAL EFFECT.
Registration pursuant to this Article creates no legal rights, other than the right to have the registered domestic partnership included in the City’s Domestic Partner Registry pursuant to this Article. No parties are prohibited from extending rights or benefits to persons listed in the Domestic Partner Registry.

10-209 OTHER APPLICABLE LAWS.
This Article shall not be interpreted nor construed to permit the recognition of a relationship that is otherwise prohibited by State law.

10-210 REGISTERING A PARTNERSHIP WITHOUT THE INDIVIDUALS’ CONSENT.
No person shall register or attempt to register a domestic partnership pursuant to the Article without the consent of the persons to be registered. Any person who is convicted of a violation of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be punished by a fine of not less than $500 or a jail term of not less than 30 days, or both such fine and jail term.

10-211 SEVERABILITY.
If any provision, clause, sentence or paragraph of this Article or the application thereof to any person or circumstances shall be held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the other provisions of this Article which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this Article are declared to be severable.

Section 2. This ordinance shall be published as provided by law and shall be effective as of the 1st day of August, 2007.

I make the Kansas City news & pontificate upon the domestic partner registry

So here's a link to the link of the Fox 4 News story. It feels weird to post this, but well, I am a ham and the cause is a good one.

Lawrence domestic partner registry passes vote -- one more to go!

Tonight may well have been the toughest test of the registry. That's because the opposition finally got itself together and showed up tonight at City Hall. As the previous post shows, there was much passionate testimony about how passing a registry -- a mere list of names -- is immoral, horribly wrong and will lead to the destruction of Lawrence.

Luckily, the Commission didn't listen and, as occurred previously, the Commission voted 4-1 in favor of the registry.

One more vote and then this thing becomes a reality.

I remain amazed at how angry and upset some people get about issues that do nothing more than treat lesbian and gay people fairly. We take nothing from no one. Having a registry merely helps our families survive.

Sometimes I think our opponents can't even see us as human. I know the picture they portray of our lives is nothing short of ridiculous. I am so sad that they can't see the reality that their neighbors, me and others who are LGBT in this community, are just like they are. We deserve the same rights, and our families deserve the same support that they receive.

Kudos to state Sen. Marci Francisco, a Democrat, for testifying in favor of the registry.

Kudos to the City Commission for voting for fairness.

Lawrence domestic partner registry live blog

[updated 6/16/07 at 2:45 p.m. to correct identification of Natalya Lowther]

--- Note: This live blogging goes backwards, with the most recent chunk at the top and the oldest at the bottom of the post. --

[updated 7:05]

Testimony is done. Commissioner Rob Chestnut repeats his support for the marriage ban., but he is also repeating his support for the registry. "It's important to note that this ordinance has no comment on sexual orientation." The attorney general has said it doesn't conflict with state law. "I have to look at this as it's written, not what I think will happen. I appreciate all the dialogue. I had a lot of meetings and lunches and discussion, but I'm staying in the position I was in."

Commissioner Boog Highberger: "I do not see this action as a threat to individual's marriage or an institution. Data I've seen from countries that have instituted marriage, marriage rate has gone up....This is about freedom and freedom is one of the values this country was founded on. ... This is a freedom that does not impose on anyone else's freedom... I strongly support it. I think it's the right thing to do whether or not it's the popular thing to do."

Mayor Sue Hack: "I want to quote Pastor Peter Luckey. He said it's quite simply the right thing to do. ... I've thought about this for a long, long time. I'm proud to be in Lawrence, Kansas, to have this be a part of our ordinances."

The registry passed 4-1. Commissioner Amyx voted against.

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[updated 7:01 on]

More discussion of how being gay is an "abomination before God" from another woman testifying.
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[updated 7 p.m.]

Three women stood separately to talk about how this is all about sin. They are passionate, but not nasty and that's a blessing.

Another woman has stood to discuss moral values. "What happened to our moral values?"

(Sorry, I have to comment: We ARE moral. Sexual orientation is morally neutral. It's how you act and what you do with your orientation that matters. )

Yet another woman has stood, elderly, she says she is proud of the commission for supporting the registry. It isn't a threat to marriage or to her marriage and it's the fair thing to do.

Lori Messinger, from KEC stands: She is listing all of the states and cities that have registries. Atlanta, New Orleans have them, small cities, Ann Arbor, Mich; Iowa City, IA, many more. Lori notes that these are college towns that want to be welcoming. "I think it's importnat to note that I"m a Jew. You represent p;eople of diverse religious orgins."

I apologize for not getting all the names.

----------------------
[updated 6:45 p.m]

Two ministers stood to oppose the registry. Rev. Leo Barbee and Rev. William Dulin.

Wow. A woman who identified herself as a "devout Christian" is now up testifying for the registry. She says the issue is health insurance and other benefits. "It's not the business of businesses to decide who's sinful. Nor is that the business of the city commission. That's God's job. It is the business of the City Commission to treat people in an equitable manner." Very eloquent.

I didn't catch the woman's name. She's wearing a bonnet as if she is Mennonnite. (The Lawrence Journal-World reports her name as Natalya Lowther. I chatted with her later in the week. She is a devout Mennonite who is also a member of the lesbian community.)

Sen. Marci Francisco just stood. She is Lawrence's state senator and is a Democrat and is urging the Commission to vote yes.

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[6:35 p.m.]

Commissioner Mike Amyx had the City Commission pull the proposed domestic partner registry off the consent agenda. The Commission is now listening to public comment. Kansas Equality Coalition still believes it has the votes to pass this, but the opposition has finally gotten itself organized.

Stay tuned.

Lawrence domestic partner registry faces another vote Tuesday

Although it seems clear we have the votes to pass a domestic partner registry in Lawrence, it's important to make certain the City Commission knows we're committed. Thus, the Kansas Equality Coalition is urging supporters of the registry to attend Tuesday's City Commission meeting.

The registry is up for first reading on the consent agenda.

All this should require from us is to attend, listen politely and then leave quietly once the Commission has passed on the item. I believe there is one more vote before the registry becomes law.

Kinzer says he won't stop trying to ban domestic partner registries

File this one under the so-what-else-is-new category: The Kansas Legislature's leading right winger says he won't give up on his push to block Lawrence and other Kansas cities from being fair to LGBT citizens.

At issue is Lawrence's impending passage of a domestic partner registry. Already anointed by a 4-1 vote, the registry is expected to pass two more votes and become a reality on Aug. 1 or thereabouts.

Note that this registry is nothing more than a list of names. Note also that all it does is allow people -- both straight and gay -- to gain access to insurance and other benefits their employers already offer.

Most folks call that being fair. But to Rep. Lance Kinzer the simple act of saying that people who are couples (some for decades) are, well, couples is horrifying. The KC Star reports:

But there are opponents, including one Kansas legislator who vows to push legislation next session to undo what Lawrence is doing and keep other towns from enacting similar registries.

“I think the city of Lawrence is doing this just to make a political statement,” said Rep. Lance Kinzer, an Olathe Republican who fears that the ordinance could lead to a challenge of the state’s voter-approved ban on same-sex marriages. “I don’t think it does on its face, but the potential is there.”

In the just completed 2007 session, Kinzer was the only sponsor on a bill to ban registries. While the bill made it out of one of the most socially conservative committees in the House, it never made it to the House floor for a vote. Apparently, there wasn't enough support to bring it up.

One warning, though. Never underestimate the power of the right to pass anti-gay legislation. That's why joining the Kansas Equality Coalition and helping the coalition in its Statehouse work is important.

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PHOTO: Lance Kinzer

Lawrence gets ready to launch Kansas' first domestic partner registry August 1

Hooray! Progress is indeed on the horizon as the state's most liberal town gets ready to launch a domestic partner registry.

For more on the lengthy saga of the Kansas Equality Coalition's push to pass a domestic partner registry in the home of the University of Kansas, look at this collection of In This Moment posts.