The Republican-controlled legislature of Putnam County, NY enacted domestic partnerships by a veto-proof majority, though Republican County Executive Robert Bondi signed the bill into law, according an Associated Press article carried by local TV station WCAX.
Though I don’t support domestic partnerships, preferring to support, encourage, and protect marriage by extending the rights and responsibilities to willing and able couples regardless of gender, this decision is important. Equality for LGBT citizens is not a partisan issue, it is a civil rights issue and Americans of all stripes are wising up and taking a stand. More importantly, LGBT folks are not captive to the Democratic party. If Democratic officials and candidates won’t take a stand, we can find Republicans (and Libertarians, and Greens, etc.) who will.
It is a shame that in well-intentioned effort to extend equality to queer citizens, straight politicians are doing the one thing most gay and straight people can agree is NOT what we want: taking apart marriage. I need to join with my fellow New Yorkers in making certain that our state enacts marriage equality so that we can see parity under the law while preserving marriage.
