Cleveland, Ohio, is being given a chance to change its domestic partner registry or face a lawsuit.
The issue is a possible conflict with state law -- specifically Article XV, Section 11 of the Ohio Constitution. Jim Campbell, an attorney with the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), lays the groundwork. "Back in 2004, the Ohio voters enacted a state marriage amendment which prohibited any local political subdivisions from creating or recognizing a legal status for relationships of unmarried individuals that intends to approximate the relationship of marriage," he explains. However, an ADF press release notes the city's registry acknowledges a legal status for two cohabitating adults who are in a so-called "committed relationship." As Campbell states: "The city of Cleveland has enacted a domestic partner registry which violates that constitutional provision." Campbell points out domestic partnerships are generally considered equal to marriage. An ADF-affiliated attorney in Cincinnati has sent a demand letter to Cleveland's city attorney asking that the ordinance be removed or a lawsuit will follow.
The issue is a possible conflict with state law -- specifically Article XV, Section 11 of the Ohio Constitution. Jim Campbell, an attorney with the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), lays the groundwork. "Back in 2004, the Ohio voters enacted a state marriage amendment which prohibited any local political subdivisions from creating or recognizing a legal status for relationships of unmarried individuals that intends to approximate the relationship of marriage," he explains. However, an ADF press release notes the city's registry acknowledges a legal status for two cohabitating adults who are in a so-called "committed relationship." As Campbell states: "The city of Cleveland has enacted a domestic partner registry which violates that constitutional provision." Campbell points out domestic partnerships are generally considered equal to marriage.
An ADF-affiliated attorney in Cincinnati has sent a demand letter to Cleveland's city attorney asking that the ordinance be removed or a lawsuit will follow.
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