According to OutFront Minnesota, Red Wing and Robbinsdale are two communities that will be considering a domestic partner registry within the next month. The Red Wing City Council, in the southeast part of the state, is set to consider an ordinance at its May 23rd meeting. The Robbinsdale City Council, located just over the northwest border of Minneapolis, could make a decision as soon as next week. Currently, more than 1 million of the state’s 5 million residents are covered by domestic partner registries.
Last week the Robbinsdale Human Rights Commission voted to forward a proposed domestic partnership ordinance to the City Council. The Robbinsdale City Council may take up consideration of the domestic partnership ordinance at their meeting on Tuesday, May 3 at 7pm at Robbinsdale City Hall.
Domestic partnership ordinances provide couples — same-sex or different-sex — the ability to document the existence of their relationship in a… way that makes it easier to secure benefits voluntarily provided by employers, health clubs, and other businesses. OutFront Minnesota also supports domestic partner registries because they show that local governments are taking the lead in demanding legal equality for all couples.
Domestic partner registries have been passed in Minneapolis, Duluth, St. Paul, Rochester, Golden Valley, Maplewood, Edina, St. Louis Park and Richfield. The state of Minnesota prohibits local municipalities from offering domestic partner benefits.