Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/190797
Sarasota News Leader October 11, 2013 Page 37 "I am adamantly against that," said Commissioner Christine Robinson. She called the educational language "overreaching." Commissioners Patterson and Joe Barbetta joined her in blocking it. before allowing a person they believe to be the spouse of a patient to make healthcare decisions, he points out. So why would a domestic partnership registry present additional hurdles? If a biological parent objects to a partner having input into a child's eduWhile the ordinance was eventually approved cation, then "the domestic partner's input for a public hearing, the commissioners doesn't count," he says. posed several hypotheticals. How do administrative staffs of local hospitals feel about "They're playing to their constituency," adds such ordinances? Would partners be allowed Shelin. "And I think a couple of them aren't to claim two homestead exemptions? Would too keen on [the registry], but they're on the the county be obligated to extend benefits to wrong side of history, because things are partners? changing." While "glad" the county chose to include reciprocity language, "Sometimes I think this commission worries things to death," Shelin tells The Sarasota News Leader. Local hospitals don't demand to see a marriage license The domestic partnership registry isn't the only LGBT issue residents are asking the commission to address: Julia Nowak is pressing the board to act on a human rights ordinance. Nowak is the Englewood Realtor who first Klaus Obermeit asks the County Commission to approve a domestic partnership registry for the county. Photo by Rachel Hackney