Mesa Partnership Registry

Councilmember Dennis Kavanaugh is "exploring" the idea of promoting a domestic partnership registry for the City of Mesa (Tribune version here). We have offered the councilman a chance to offer up his thoughts on this issue here on Mesa Issues and we hope he will take us up on it.

The issue has already raised the ire of some in the conservative community because the definition of marriage was such a hot topic issue on the November ballot. I hope that the conversation can stay civil on both sides - although the comment sections aren't looking promising so far.

It should be noted that this is not quite the same issue as the November election. The Marriage amendment was a constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman. The marriage issue from two years ago delved deeper into domestic partner issues and benefits and was defeated. There is a line, to at least some, between the definition of traditional marriage and domestic (or unmarried) partner issues.

I don't claim to know all of the ramifications of such a list, which is why I hope the Councilman will give us some more clarification. In the meantime, I would like to reserve judgement until I know more about it.