Just out., July 21, 2000, Page 9, Image 9

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ust one step remains until ‘‘Adam and
Steve” can pop the cork on a bottle of
champagne and celebrate their...partner­
ship. It might not have the same romance
typically associated with love, marriage
and wedding bells, but proponents of a
partnership registry think this is an important
first step.
Multnomah County commissioners voted
unanimously July 20 in favor of a proposed ordi­
nance to provide a domestic partnership registry
for unmarried couples wanting to formalize their
relationships— including same-sex couples.
The vote of approval came on the heels of a
final public hearing in Gresham.
Despite expected disfavor from at least some
east Multnomah County residents, those who
showed up for the community meeting about
the proposed domestic partnership registry
voiced only support.
“I think it is great,” Sam Adams, chief of staff
to Portland’s Mayor Vera Katz, said about the
July 6 meeting. “It’s a wonderful surprise.”
County Commissioner Serena Cruz, who
explained the ordinance and answered ques­
tions with her colleague, Lisa Naito, also was
pleased with the overwhelming positive feed­
back and lack of objection.
The Multnomah County Commission and
the city of Portland co-sponsored the communi­
ty meeting in Gresham to give east county resi­
dents a convenient opportunity to comment on
the proposed ordinance. The two governmental
C ounty S ays , ‘I Do’
After Gresham expresses widespread support, commissioners
unanimously approve domestic partnership registry by Jonathan Kipp
bodies previously heard from residents in other
areas of the county but had not held a meeting
in east county.
Naito and others thought a meeting in
Gresham was necessary. She announced at the
meeting that she has a gay brother and that he
should have the same rights as anyone else. The
registry might be a first step, she said.
Others who showed up to comment had gay
family members, as well.
“My son is gay,” a middle-aged mother confi­
dently said. She thinks the county’s action is
important.
The registry came to the agenda when mem­
bers of the City Council and County Commis­
sion saw other cities passing ordinances in late
1999 allowing same-sex partners to register their
relationship with local government agencies.
Katz assembled a task force to look into the issue
as a first step.
Several months later, a proposed ordinance
was authored to provide a partnership registry
for unmarried couples and received
“unanimous support” from both the city and
county voting bodies, Adams said. He
explained that the issue of a domestic part­
nership registry has been discussed during the
past few years. Local officials watched Los
Angeles, New York City, San Francisco and
Seattle implement registries, but the time was
never right.
Adams said registry proponents either were
concerned about the Oregon Citizens
Alliance or because the Legislature was con­
sidering important legislation; they wanted to
make sure the timing was right for a positive
public reaction. “It was more than time to pass
this,” he admitted.
Jim Van Dyke, deputy city of Portland
attorney, said communities in 17 states and 40
cities have domestic partnership registries.
Some, including California and Hawaii, have
statewide registries for unmarried
couples, he said.
Ashland is Oregon’s only city offering a
domestic partnership registry. At least 23 cou­
ples have registered there, Van Dyke said.
The registry has no legal meaning, accord­
ing to Van Dyke. “At this time, (the registry)
is almost completely a symbolic gesture,” he
said.
Cruz said she was saddened that her gay
friends couldn’t make the same level of com­
mitment, in the eyes of the government, as
everyone else. That’s one of the reasons she
pioneered the effort.
Despite that, Cruz wanted to make certain
the county touched base with everyone in the
community before moving forward on the
issue— even if it meant facing opposition. But
this night, anyone opposing such change had
other plans.
“I’m delighted,” Cruz said about the posi­
tive tone of the meeting.
If the ordinance passes a second vote by the
County Commission on July 27, the domestic
partnership registry will become official before
Sept. 1. Couples will be required to register in
person. The registry will become a part of pub­
lic record.
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