Domestic Partnerships in St. Paul?

Minneapolis was the second major city in the nation to register domestic partnerships in 1991. Duluth has had a similar registry for domestic partners since May, and now St. Paul has decided that it needs to catch up. The St. Paul City Council is considering an ordinance to set up a domestic partnership registry for city residents. There appears to be sufficient support from council members and would seem likely that the City Council will approve the new registry.

In Minneapolis, two adults in a committed relationship who are "jointly responsible to each other for the necessities of life" can register with the Minneapolis City Clerk. Registration provides visitation privileges in healthcare facilities, and some employers voluntarily provide benefits to registered domestic partners of their employees, such as health insurance, life insurance, and family leave. Same sex couples, and heterosexual couples can both register their domestic partnerships.

Visitation privileges, and access to healthcare and other benefits through a domestic partner's employer (if the employer offers it) is a major benefit for many couples and their dependents, but domestic partnership registration doesn't provide any other benefits that married couples enjoy. Is it possible that domestic partners will ever be entitled to any of the rights married couples have?

Heterosexual and same-sex couples can register, and no distinction is made based on whether the domestic partners are a man and a women, or both men or both women, but since same-sex couples can register, those opposed to gay marriage can take issue with extending any more rights to domestic partners.

The State of Minnesota explicitly defines marriage as between a man and a woman, and with one third of Minnesotans believing that same-sex marriages should be prohibited, and another third believe that Minnesota's laws should stay the same and that the Supreme Court should be given the task of making a ruling on the Minnesota law's constitutionality. Just a quarter of Minnesotans believe that same-sex marriage should be allowed.

Twin Cities metro area and especially Minneapolis are more accepting of same-sex couples than the state-wide average. (The Midwest's biggest and most fabulous Pride Parade and Festival is next weekend, June 27 and 28.) Within the Twin Cities metro area the percentage in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage is much higher, while outstate Minnesota is much more strongly in opposition.

So while the city of St. Paul said that it is recognizing the need to catch up with Minneapolis and provide some support and recognition to non-traditional families, it's likely a major attitude change would be necessary amongst the population at large before any changes that would allow same-sex marriage or provide any more benefits to non-traditional couples and domestic partners.