Dayton considers same-sex partnerships

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - City Commissioners will hear an ordinance Wednesday which would create a domestic partnership registry for same and unmarried opposite sex couples.

Couples would have to meet a few qualifications, like being over 18 and sharing a home. They'd then take an oath.

The cost of registering would be $50.

The registry wouldn't include a residency requirement, so people in surrounding areas and even states could sign up.

Businesses could then use the registry to help determine if a same or opposite sex partner qualifies for benefits.

2 NEWS asked the Lynn Sellers, president of Dayton's Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) group about the registry.

Sellers says while the group really wants to see marriage equality for same sex couples, the registry is a start that could help make the area more welcoming.

"Hospitals, universities, tech businesses, they all want to know that they're bringing people into an inclusive community," Sellers says.

City officials stress that registering is optional and that whether businesses use the registry is up to them.

Commissioners won't vote on the ordinance until next week's meeting at the earliest.