Bill
to increase domestic partners' rights
By
Porschia Baker
On-line Forty-Niner
According
to an analysis prepared by a council member
of the Assembly Judiciary Committee of California,
gay partners in the past have had fewer
than twenty rights. Today, California is
making steps toward giving gay partners
similar rights as married couples.
The
California Domestic Partner Rights and Responsibilities
Act of 2003 or AB 205, which has been amended
four times in the California Assembly and
Senate, finally passed on Sept. 3, and will
take affect on Jan. 1, 2005. However, this
bill only applies to domestic partners who
are over 18 years-of-age and have filed
a Declaration of Domestic Partnership with
the Secretary of State in California.
The
purpose of AB 205 is to broaden the rights
of spouses to include domestic partners.
AB
205 will give gay partners certain essential
rights and responsibilities such as dealing
with the laws governing community property
and benefits, and financial support during
and after the relationship. In addition,
the bill consists of responsibilities of
partners who have children including visitation
or any other financial support for children.
However, this bill does not include the
necessary benefits of income tax.
On
Sept. 15, Equality California, which is
a gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender
civil rights organization, announced that
gay partners have been included in the Health
Insurance Act of 2003 or SB 2. This means
that if Gov. Davis, who has until Oct. 12
to decide on this measure, passes the bill,
then companies with more than 200 employees
will be required to provide health care
coverage to the dependants of a domestic
partner, including a child.
Toni
Broaddus, who is the Program Director of
Equality California, said, "[bill ab
205] is a huge step toward equality."
Broaddus said, " that California is
showing it self to be a leader for lesbian,
gay, bisexual and transgender [people]."
She said that although AB 205 is not equal
to marriage it is better than the few rights
that the gay community had before.
Bonnie
Osborn, who is the communications director
at the L.A. Lesbian and Gay Center, said
"[this bill] is one step in the right
direction." However, she said, "I
don't feel [that this bill] is equivalent
to marriage and it does not come close to
the thousands of rights that married couples
have."
Osborn
later added that this bill will go a long
way to address the inequalities faced by
the gay community.
Erika
Durrell, a junior and biology major, said,
"[California] is encouraging other
states to do something." In addition,
she said with the passing of this bill she
feels people will be more open.
Freshman
and English major, Devon Nelson, said, "I
think it is a good thing."
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