Northfield City Council to Discuss Domestic Partner Registry Ordinance

Northfield may soon join the many Minnesota cities that have passed domestic partner registry ordinances in recent years.

The Northfield City Council will discuss the possibility of taking up the issue as part of its 2012 work plan at its work session on Tuesday.

It has at least one advocate on the council.

“I would like to see the city council move forward with it,” Councilor Betsey Buckheit told Patch.

At present, 18 Minnesota cities have passed domestic partner registry ordinances, according to the Research and Inquiry Department of the League of Minnesota Cities and LGBT advocacy organization OutFront Minnesota. The vast majority of these communities are located within the Twin Cities metro area. 

The League of Minnesota Cities defines a “domestic partner” as “two adults who share an emotional and financial relationship but choose not to marry or cannot legally marry.”

Domestic partner benefits can include health and dental insurance, employee assistance program, dependent life insurance and family medical leave.

Earlier this month, the cities of Eagan and Eden Prairie became the 17th and 18th Minnesota cities to pass domestic partner registry ordinances.

“It reflects an increasing agreement across Minnesota that it’s time to move forward with respect to providing some form of legal recognition for same sex couples,” said Phil Duran, legal director for OutFront Minnesota.

Buckheit said that the passing of a domestic partner registry indicates a resistance to the Defense of Marriage Act. Duran noted that the status of DOMA will not impact the legitimacy of registered domestic partnerships.

“Even if it were to pass, it says absolutely nothing, in any way, shape or form about whether local governments can or cannot pass ordinances of this sort,” said Duran.

OutFront Minnesota provides technical assistance to small Minnesota communities seeking to enact pro-LGBT civic change.

Bringing the issue to Northfield

Duran was contacted by a group of Northfield residents last summer about bringing the issue to the city. In September, he led an informational session in town, at which he discussed how to contact city council members about passing a domestic partner registry ordinance.

Dan Hudson was one of the residents who attended Duran’s presentation. He has since emailed several city council members requesting government action.

“I think it’s the right thing to do,” he said. “It’s going to make domestic partners feel more welcome.”

Hudson believes that if the council adds the issue to the 2012 work plan, more organized discourse will follow.

“The perception, among many, is that Northfield’s a progressive community and would take a serious look at it,” said Duran.

Buckheit was one of the government officials who received an email from Hudson.

“I think these are basic rights—to be able to marry, have your partnership, raise your children, be a useful member of society,” she said. “I don’t know why we’re trying to restrict it.”

Buckheit and Councilor Erica Zweifel both included the registry ordinance as one of their proposed action items for the council’s 2012 work plan.

Northfield City Administrator Tim Madigan and Mayor Mary Rossing said it was too early in the governmental process to discuss the possibility of passing an ordinance.