Second Ward candidates support domestic partner registry
The registry would give basic rights to non-married partners.
Published March 2, 2009
As the issue of benefits for domestic partnerships becomes increasingly important to voters, political candidates are beginning to voice their opinions on the issue.
Before the upcoming race to fill the Second Ward City Council seat, candidates Allan Sharrock and Jason Thornhill spoke about the impending vote on the domestic partner registry.
A bill that would set up a registry is under consideration by the council. The proposed bill would ensure any couple, regardless of sexual orientation, would receive joint rights in the use of city facilities. The registry could also be used as proof of a relationship for employee benefit plans and as a way to gain hospital visitation rights.
Sharrock, an industrial technology teacher at Lange Middle School and Iraqi war veteran, and Thornhill, co-owner of Weichert Realty, both support the measure.
"I think the premise for what it's going to establish is a good one," Thornhill said. "I don't know much about how it came about, but in general I support measures for domestic partners."
Sharrock said the ordinance would attract broad support.
"This ordinance doesn't infringe upon any one's religious beliefs," he said. "The only people that could take issue would be business owners that would have to have to make the choice on offering insurance or not offering insurance."
AJ Bockelman, executive director for Personal Rights of Missourians, said in an e-mail this registry was similar to those already passed in Kansas City, St. Louis and Jackson County.
"It is a non-binding registry, meaning that on face value the benefits are limited but do provide an important way to recognize relationships outside of a marital format," Bockelman said.
Since it is non-binding, it will be up to individual businesses to decide whether to use the registry.
"In essence it's left up to the business owners if they choose to give out insurance," Sharrock said. "And I think if they value their employee they would offer insurance. If you're going to offer it for married couples I guess you should have no problem offering it for gay couples."
Bockelman said he would like to see a few other provisions added to the ordinance.
"We have also suggested we include recognition of the domestic partner registry by nursing home and assisted living facilities because a growing number of older LGBT individuals or even just unmarried straight couples have a difficult time staying together as they get older," Bockelman said.
Both Thornhill and Sharrock said they support such additional measures to the ordinance.
"I suppose I'd be willing to support more provisions," Thornhill said. "I don't think I would be opposed to support rights that are offered to other people and not domestic partners."
Sharrock said this issue would be easier to solve than some of the problems facing the city.
"As councilmen, we're going to have a lot of though decisions ahead of us in Columbia," Sharrock said. "We are going to have budgetary issues, we have crime issues. We're going to need to elect officials who are up to the task."
Chris Janku, who is retiring his seat after holding it for 18 years, represents the Second Ward. The municipal elections are April 7.