Forgive me, folks: For the next week, I am going to claim to be a
Nevadan.
This claim has some merit, seeing as I was born there and lived
there before moving here 6 1/2 years ago. But the real reason for this
claim is that I’m rather proud of the Silver State’s Legislature, which
last weekend legalized domestic partnerships. After moronic Gov. Jim
Gibbons vetoed the bill—which will award registered domestic
partners, both gay and straight, most of the same rights as married
couples—both houses of the Legislature voted to override the
veto. The law, which enjoyed a fair amount of bipartisan support (and
opposition), will take effect on Oct. 1.
Interesting fact: A key factor in the override was the fact that
many of Nevada’s business interests—including the all-powerful
casino industry—got behind the bill. It simply made good business
sense.
The Nevada Legislature also managed to compromise on a budget plan.
Contrast that to the goings-on up in Phoenix. At the Capitol, bills
that would recognize domestic partnerships in Arizona have been
introduced in both the House and the Senate, yet they have no chance of
going anywhere. Meanwhile, budget negotiations seem hopelessly
deadlocked, with the Republicans, the Democrats and the governor only
able to agree on one thing: They don’t like the other two groups’
budget proposals.
However, our elected officials have taken big steps to make it legal
for gun owners to keep their firearms in parked cars. Enough said.
Therefore, for the next week, ignore what it says on my driver’s
license: I am a proud Nevadan.
This article appears in Jun 4-10, 2009.