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Ashland may let gay couples register City would be first in Oregon to do so By PETER WONG ASHLAND -- Chalk up another first for this community if the City Council establishes a registry for domestic partners, including same-sex couples. The council is likely to consider the matter at its next meeting Oct. 5. City Attorney Paul Nolte said he is unaware of such a registry in any other community in Oregon. The registry would allow "domestic partners," two unmarried people age 18 or older who live together, to document that relationship. Same-sex couples cannot marry under Oregon law, which recognizes marriage as the union of a man and a woman. "I believe it is appropriate that Ashland, as a caring community, should lead the way," said Neil Sechan, who spoke for the idea this week on behalf of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Political Caucus of Southern Oregon. The Oct. 5 meeting would be a few days before Pink Weekend, sponsored Oct. 8-10 in Ashland by the Lambda Community Center Association. Joining in the request is the local chapter of Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. "There is no place else in Southern Oregon I would consider living other than Ashland," said Don LaBella, who moved to Ashland with his partner less than a year ago. Mayor Cathy Shaw said she believes that a registry would have limited official effect on unmarried couples, whether heterosexual or same-sex, but a positive personal effect. "I would be incredibly proud to be mayor of a community that provides this service," she said Wednesday. "I am a great believer in the institution of marriage. As they approach adolescence, my children ask me about why people get married. So I understand why this community is asking us to do this -- how important it is to be able to celebrate in an official way your commitment to another person." Rosemary Dunn Dalton, who also spoke for the caucus, said a registry would let unmarried couples establish relationships for purposes of visitation rights in hospitals and other institutions. She said a registry would provide proof of partnership for businesses offering benefits to domestic partners. The Oregon Court of Appeals decided last year that if governments offer benefits to domestic partners, they cannot deny benefits to same-sex couples because of the constitutional guarantee of equal protection. The court did not rule on Oregon's legal definition of marriage. Ashland is among the local governments that have extended benefits to same-sex couples to comply with the ruling. Dalton described as "mean-spirited" a proposed ballot measure, which died in the 1999 Legislature, to write the definition of marriage into the state constitution and bar benefits to unmarried couples. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA