Domestic partner bill passes Senate after gay marriage debate
ST. PAUL The Minnesota Senate approved hospital visitation rights for domestic partners today. The move touched off debate over the definition of marriage.
The legislation would give unmarried domestic partners the standing to visit and make health care decisions for each other in the hospital. The bill defines domestic partners as adults in a “committed interdependent relationship” who live together.Gay marriage opponents painted the bill as a sneaky way of legalizing same-sex unions.Backers say the legislation is a humane effort to help same-sex partners who have hit barriers during health emergencies.An amendment that would have removed the term “domestic partners” from the bill failed.A House version awaits a vote.
Source: wkbt.com