Countdown Begins To Opening Of Maine Gay Registry

On July 30 Maine's domestic partner law goes into effect. It provides inheritance rights, next-of-kin status, victim's compensation, and guardian and conservator rights to domestic partners.

But, while the law will give same-sex couples many of the rights currently accorded only to heterosexual couples it falls short of marriage.

In May, shortly before gay marriage became legal in Massachusetts the Maine legislature passed a law making it illegal for the state to recognize same-sex marriages performed outside of Maine. (story) The state already had a law blocking the state from allowing gay marriages within Maine.

Equality Maine, which lobbied for the partner registry law, said that while civil unions aren't marriage, the new law is a step along the long road to full marriage equality in the state.

The group is helping same-sex couples prepare for the opening of registry offices.

Couples must complete a state form, have it notarized and pay a $35 filing fee. To qualify, partners must be unmarried, monogamous, mentally competent adults who have lived together in Maine for at least 12 months .It will take the state several days to process applications, after which the Department of Health and Human Services will mail a "declaration of domestic partnership" to applicants.

Once the registry opens Equality Maine will begin lobbying for a state-wide anti-discrimination law to combat bias based on sexuality in employment, housing, public accommodations and credit.

Gov. John Baldacci has pledged to introduce the bill during the 2005 legislative session.

The Legislature has twice passed such a law in recent years, only to have it rejected by voters.

Lawmakers passed a gay-rights bill in 1997 and then-Gov. Angus King signed it into law. But opponents forced a so-called "people's veto" referendum in 1998, and voters killed the law. The Legislature embraced a gay-rights law once again in 2000. That time, lawmakers sent it to voters for final action, and it was defeated again.

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