Tonight: Plymouth HRC Discusses Domestic Partner Registration

The Plymouth Human Rights Committee will vote at its meeting tonight at 7 p.m. in City Hall whether or not to recommend to the Plymouth City Council to have the city adopt an ordinance that would allow people to register as domestic partners. 

A domestic partner registry would allow unmarried couples to certify their relationships with the city.

Supporters have said registration would make it easier for couples to obtain hospital visitation rights and benefits from employers that offer domestic partner benefits. Registries can also be a symbolic vote in support of same-sex marriage while actual marriage remains off the table for gay and lesbian couples.

The Committee's discussion will also include whether the city should oppose the marriage amendment though that is not on the official agenda.

The League of Minnesota Human Rights Commissions, of which Plymouth is a member, has publicly opposed a proposed ban on gay marriage in Minnesota, as have a number of other Minnesota cities, including Edina, Robbinsdale, St. Louis Park and Crystal.

The discussion on domestic partner registry has been ongoing for about a year or more. The Committee plans to take a vote at tonight's meeting.

But voters will have the final voice on whether the constitutional amendment passes when heading to the polling places Tuesday, Nov. 6.

The amendment will ask:

"Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to provide that only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in Minnesota?"

The Plymouth Human Rights Committee meeting is at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 2, in the Medicine Lake Room at Plymouth City Hall.

(Some informaton in this article was supported by an on a similar discussion and topic on Hopkins Patch.)