Domestic partners began registering their relationships with the city of Salt Lake on Thursday. The registry was unanimously approved by city council in February (story) but ran into trouble with the legislature over its name. Earlier this month the Utah House gave its approval of the ordinance long is it was not called a domestic partner registry.
The registry had been a campaign promise by Mayor Ralph Becker who worked with members of city council to ensure the provisions did not run counter to a state constitutional amendment that bans same-sex marriage. In a deal brokered by Becker and lawmakers the registry is called a mutual commitment registry. The registry is open to adult unmarried couples that live together in an interdependent relationship.
