PRINTABLE PAGE

State's Gay Couples Await New Rights

By Natalie Singer
Originally published in The Desert Sun, October 22, 2001

They've been a couple for 35 years—living together, working together, celebrating life's achievements and turning to each other for support.

But until this week, much of what they built over the years could have been lost if something happened to one of them.

That is because partners Paul Bacon and Bob Parrott are gay, one of hundreds of thousands of couples in California who cannot marry under the law or obtain many legal benefits afforded by that union.

But under a bill signed last week by Gov. Gray Davis, Parrott, Bacon and other gay, lesbian and senior domestic partners like them will soon enjoy nearly a dozen rights already provided to heterosexual married couples.

"It takes away all the doubt," said Bacon. "And it's not special rights, it's equal rights."

The bill, AB 25, gives eligible unmarried partners in California the rights to:

To benefit from the new law, couples must be registered as domestic partners with the state under a system established in 1999.

Studies suggest about 400,000 same-sex couples live in California. About 7,600 couples, mostly of the same sex, have registered as domestic partners. Heterosexual couples older than 62 can register and benefit as well.

Gays and lesbians are heralding AB 25, authored by Assemblywoman Carole Migden, D-San Francisco, as a huge step forward for gays, lesbians and their families.

"These rights are needed, and they should have been all along," said Fred Bilodeau, president of Stonewall Democrats. "My partner and I have been together 27 years and we plan to register immediately."

"People need to broaden their spectrum of what family is," said Larry Hughes, president of the Desert Rainbow Foundation. Hughes and his partner have been together for five years and held a commitment ceremony last year.

"Many of us have wills, living trusts and power of attorney for our partners, but that's not always enough protection," he said.

Some groups, however, oppose the law, calling it an assault on traditional marriage and a slap in the face to the majority of Californians.

In March 2000, more than 60 percent of California voters said that marriage should be between a man and a woman.

"In one fell swoop, Gray Davis has cheapened every marriage in the state, undermined the vote of the people, pandered to the special interests, frivolously spent taxpayer money and broken his written promise to the citizens of California," said Randy Thomasson, director of the Campaign for California Families.

Local representatives Assemblyman Dave Kelley, R-Idyllwild, and Sen. Jim Battin, R-La Quinta, voted against the bill.

Gays and lesbians say the new protections are especially important because they often must face situations where family members don't agree with or understand their sexuality and do not respect their wishes when they get sick or die.

"We've seen situations where one partner gets sick or dies and the family comes in and takes over," said Parrott.

The law comes as gay and lesbian couples continue to obtain more legal rights both from the government and in the business sector. Hundreds of cities, colleges and companies now provide health benefits to domestic partners, for example.

But the bill, although a giant step forward, does not mean equality or full acceptance for gays and lesbians or put California on par with Vermont, many point out.

Vermont is the only state that allows gay couples to form "civil unions," which provide most of the rights, benefits and responsibilities of marriage.

A bill pending in the California Legislature that would legalize civil unions will be considered early next year, said sponsor Assemblyman Paul Koretz, D-West Hollywood.

"As far as our rights go, this is an exceptional piece of legislation," said Bacon, who plans to register with his partner soon. "But as far as acceptance, I don't know yet."

© 2001 The Desert Sun.