Nevada state Senate passes domestic partnership bill
The state Senate passed a bill on Tuesday that would create a domestic partner registry for same-sex couples who live in Nevada.
Openly gay state Sen. David R. Parks [D-Las Vegas] sponsored Senate Bill 283. It passed by a 12 to nine vote and it was referred to the state Assembly's Judiciary Committee. A hearing has yet to be scheduled, but the entire Assembly will vote on the proposed legislation if it makes it out of committee.
"I look at most bills like you would look at a baseball game, you got to get to the first, base, second base and third base before it gets to the home plate," Parks said. "Right now it's on second base and I need to bring it home."
Parks added he feels SB 283 will pass in the Assembly, especially since Speaker Barbara Buckley [D-Las Vegas] has expressed her support. And roughly two-thirds of Assembly members are Democrats.
"Obviously, it is an issue that I am perhaps more passionate and emotional (about)," Parks said. "That would be something that would distinguish SB 283. I would certainly like to see this bill pass, but I have 30 bills and would like to see all them pass-some have not passed out of committee."
SB 283 is not the only piece of LGBT-specific legislation Carson City lawmakers have debated in recent months. Assembly Bill 184, an anti-discrimination proposal, did not make it out of the Assembly Labor and Commerce Committee. The Senate passed Senate Bill 207, which would ban discrimination based on sexual orientation in restaurants and other public accommodations. But it did not include transgender-specific protections.
Parks attributes a lack of trans-specific language to a lack of education on the part of his legislative colleagues.
"A majority of the members of the legislature are unfamiliar with gender identity," he said. "It is incumbent upon the gay lesbian and transgender community to make it a priority to educate legislators about the transgender community and the discrimination transgender people experience."
The passage of SB 283 coincided with the first annual LGBT lobbying days in Carson City.
More than 80 activists from across the state took part in the two-day event. Half of the participants saw the Senate pass SB 283 while others attended a reception at the Governor's Mansion where they met with First Lady Dawn Gibbons.
An press release from the Gay & Lesbian Center of Southern Nevada stated she expressed her support for SB 283. A second source confirmed to EDGE the First Lady reportedly encouraged its supporters to continue their efforts to make the bill become law.
Her husband, Gov. Jim Gibbons, with whom she is currently embroiled in a contentious divorce as a result of reported multiple affairs, has publicly said he would veto SB 283.
The Center recently reached out to the governor in hopes of scheduling a meeting to reconsider his stance on the issue. Spokesperson David Burns told EDGE the governor is open to meeting with group representatives, but he added he doubts he will change his mind.
"He has agreed to have some discussion with groups, but (he believes) the government should not be involved in anyone's medicine cabinet or bedroom," Burns said.
Parks disagrees. He argued SB 283 and other bills are important to improve Nevada's economic prospects.
"The other side of this is that Nevada is a state highly dependant on tourism," Parks said. "This bill will help send a message that the state of Nevada believes in fairness and equality."