Mesa Official Seeks DP Registry

MESA (Observer Update) - Mesa may become only the third in the state to offer a domestic-partner registry to unmarried couples, reported the Arizona Republic.

Mesa Councilman Dennis Kavanaugh has been exploring the idea and has asked the city attorney to draft an ordinance that would allow people to register their relationships with the city. "It's not creating Gay marriage," Kavanaugh said. "The sole purpose is to ensure visitation rights for people who are in unmarried-partner relationships."

Kavanaugh hopes Mesa's Human Relations Advisory Board will consider the idea early this year and forward it to the council for approval. He said couples who register would be charged a fee to offset the city's costs. In 2008, Phoenix became the second city to institute a registry, following Tucson’s lead on the issue with their registry created in 2003.