Falcon Heights is 12th city with domestic partner registry
The Falcon Heights city council voted unanimously last night to establish a domestic partner registry for unmarried same-sex and opposite sex couples who live or work in the community.
Falcon Heights resident Ann DeGroot brought the issue to her city after learning about other suburbs adopting registries.
"In our neighborhood, most of us think it's a bit of a no-brainer," said DeGroot.
On Monday I did a story on partnership registries multiplying--especially in the suburbs-- as Minnesota gears up for a much bigger vote on a constitutional amendment to define who can marry next year. Same-sex marriage advocates say registries are a sign of growing tolerance. Opponents say registries have no legal power, and the marriage vote is what matters.
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Monday evening, Crystal's Human Rights Commission voted to forward the measure to the Crystal City Council for further action.
OutFront Minnesota, which provides technical support to cities considering registries, estimates 15-20 communities will have registries by the time Minnesotans head to the polls in 2012 to vote on the marriage amendment.
Minneapolis established the state's first domestic partnership registry in 1991. Since 2009, Duluth, St. Paul, Rochester, Red Wing, Edina, Golden Valley, Richfield, St. Louis Park, Maplewood, Robbinsdale and now Falcon Heights have approved them.
Moorhead voted one down in 2010.