I’ve been meaning to talk about this bit of news ever since the new state budget done got itself released on June 29 – part of the new budget provides that same-sex couples can now apply for domestic partnership status. Basically, this will afford gay couples some of the same legal rights as married couples (which in this state must be the non-gay kind).

I won’t list off every right and benefit afforded by the State of Wisconsin to a domestic partnership (go here for that), but they include joint health, dental, and vision insurance; medical and family leave; inheritance rights; and hospital visitation rights.

So this a noticeable step (but not a leap) towards a gay-friendlier Wisconsin – kind of a breath of fresh air after the whole “Marriage Amendment” debacle of 2006, which is why Wisconsin now legally defines marriage as something between one man and one woman. It’s also why the state doesn’t allow “civil unions” of any kind between any two people, oppositely sexed or otherwise.

I was reminded of the new law by this story over at WQOW.com about Wisconsin county clerks preparing for the change. The story quotes Chippewa County Clerk Kathy Bernier as saying, “I don't think there are going to be a lot of people coming in to do this.” I guess I wouldn’t plan on a huge flood of new domestic partnership applications in Chippewa County, but I’m betting Kathy might be surprised by the number.