Domestic
partners to be recognized
By Joyce Kelly
On-line Forty-Niner
James
De La Suente, a volunteer at the Long Beach
Gay and Lesbian Community Service Center,
was in a domestic partnership, and his partner
became very ill.
They
were registered as domestic partners, but
they were not aware of the necessary information
that would protect them and their rights.
His
partner’s parents took charge of him and
moved him back home to live with them. De
La Suente said his entire future was destroyed,
because of his lack of knowledge about the
protective information.
“There
are no pamphlets with information for the
domestic partners to have protection. We
were not told about a power of attorney
or executor of will,” he said.
Gov.
Gray Davis signed the Keeley Inheritance
Rights Bill on Sept.10, which will give
domestic partners the same rights as married
couples to prevent instances like De La
Suente’s from occurring. However, it will
not be effective until July 1, 2003.
This
law, named after Assembly Speaker Pro Tem
Fred Keeley, D-Boulder Creek, will grant
inheritance rights to those who have dedicated
their lives to each other.
In
order to receive those rights domestic partners
must be registered with the secretary of
state.
The
secretary of state must prepare information
for the domestic partners that will explain
in detail exactly what the law entails.
Domestic
partners may only receive these rights if
they register. One way to register is with
the local government and the other is to
register with the state.
This
law was not designed to give the domestic
couples a right to get married.
“It
won’t have bearing on same sex marriage
rights and benefits for domestic partners,”
said Eric Bowman, special assistant to Davis.
“Absent of will determines the hierarchy
as to who becomes the successor.”
Some
domestic partners are hoping the information
they receive will enable them to pursue
court cases that occurred before the law
was passed.
“Hopefully
they will enable domestic partners to go
to court,” said Pat Crosby, director of
the Long Beach Gay and Lesbian Community
Service Center. “It is a terrific and great
thing for insurance, bank accounts and credit
cards.
Crosby
said he believes the governor had motives
for signing the bill into law. She also
said he believes that the governor hasn’t
been supportive of the gay and lesbian community.
“I
think it is to get votes,” Crosby said.
“His history hasn’t been that great,” However,
according to Bowman, the law will be retroactive
for the domestic partners who are registered
with the secretary of state.
“The
governor has been supportive of the civil
rights of the gay and lesbian community,”
he said. “He made California the first state,
in 1999, to recognize same sex couples.
We have gone further than any other state
in the United States to recognize same sex
couples.”
According
to the Long Beach Gay and Lesbian Community
Service Center, the Keeley Inheritance Rights
Bill is vague and does not inform the domestic
partners of vital information and how to
be protected.
“The
law doesn’t prepare and inform people on
their rights,” De La Suente said. “They
don’t tell you that there are two ways to
register as domestic partners.
“The
state domestic partnership certificate gives
more rights than the local one. The state’s
certificate is similar to a marriage license.
But you aren’t told, you find out by experience
or others. Here, we try to inform others,”
De La Suente said.
He
said he believes the bill is good for the
gay and lesbian community.
“It
is a step forward in steps of many,” De
La Suente said.
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