Cleveland Couples Sign Up For Domestic Partner Registry

[liberal N proud]

CLEVELAND -- The first couples in Cleveland signed up Thursday for the domestic partner registry.

Same- and opposite-sex couples who share a residence in the city are now able to register as domestic partners.

Cleveland couples are celebrating a cause they say is long overdue.

Maya Simek and Rebecca Olarte have been together for more than three years and were the first couple to declare domestic partnership in the city.

"We were expecting to be first. It's very historic, that's for sure," Simek said.

One couple after another made history.

"We're excited, we're happy. This is what we've been able to do since gay couples in Ohio can't get married," Ted Wammes said.

With this city document, unmarried couples can get some of the benefits that married couples have.

"I need medical insurance and I want my death wishes to be carried out, and I know she'll carry them through," said Laura Delli.

"Maybe edging some companies and businesses toward the fact that there are families out there that aren't being given the same rights as other people," Shirley Mirous said.

The city said the registration process is simple and expedient for interested couples.

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