Outright Libertarians of the San Francisco Bay Area urges lawmakers in the State Senate and Governor Gray Davis to pass the California Domestic Partner Rights and Responsibilities Act of 2003 (a.k.a. AB205), for the promotion of broader legal recognition of gay rights. AB205, if passed, would provide domestic partners greater privileges and responsibilities including, but not limited to, mutual responsibility for debts to third parties, child custody, property transfer, joint filing of state income tax returns, health insurance coverage, and the right to funeral arrangements.
Liberals in the State Senate and Democratic Governor Gray Davis, who has publicly endorsed the gay community, should support AB205 when they are each presented with the vote, respectively one before the other in the coming months.
Although AB205 falls short of more than a thousand laws currently enjoyed by heterosexual married couples and has the potential of driving up government expenses in the review and revision of all relevant public-use forms, members of Outright Libertarians are generally in favor of AB205 on the principle that it would promote individual rights and, specifically in this case, the right to the pursuit of happiness regardless of one’s sexual orientation. Though much progress is left to be desired at this late day and age, the passage of this bill would be a step in the right direction towards the Libertarian vision of equality and individual freedom, and may generate greater momentum for the complete dissolution of legal and social inequality towards same-sex domestic partners.
The Libertarian Party has promoted gay rights since 1972, and is the first major political party to endorse gay rights, including the right to marry any other person of one’s choosing.
Celine Mui is a San Francisco Libertarian and a member of Outright Libertarians of the San Francisco Bay Area.