Today begins a first in Volusia County, FL. LGBT couples can 'register' their domestic partnerships with the County government. Folks are already lining up and getting their names on 'the list'. This is a big deal for LGBT people, isn't it? I mean, look how far LGBT folks have come, what has been accomplished for them by this.
So what's my beef?
Why do I have 'reservations' about this?
Join me over the decorative emblem.
Domestic Partner Registry begins today. Read the link for the entire story. Here's my 'concern'. LGBT couples have to jump thru extra hoops to have at best a microscopic facsimile of what other couples in the same county can get with a simple marriage.
I know, 'baby steps'. But look closer at this. A couple has to 'register' and then is placed on a searchable government website as a couple. So, if you 'register' your relationship, all any homophobe has to do is go to the government website, enter the name of a suspected LGBT person and voila, proof positive of someone to hate. Further open websites ( like tax records ) can give up addresses so the people on 'the list' can be hunted down. Now no where in America you say, would 'teh gay' be subjected to being 'hunted'. Employers can search to find out if their suspicions are 'right'. Prospective employers can search to see if a prospective employee is on 'the list'.
No couple can quietly secure their rights under the 'domestic partnership' law without placing themselves on this government run searchable website.
Here in FL, when the anti marriage equality law was up for vote, people living next door to same sex couples openly supported writing discrimination into the state's constitution. With neighbors like that, who could feel safe on a searchable government run 'list'?
LGBT folks were put on 'lists' before. Later, they were forced to wear visible identification. Later they were imprisoned and executed.
Convince me I am wrong for being 'concerned'. Convince me that this is indeed 'progress' for LGBT equality. As Rachel would say, 'Talk me down, please'.