Maplewood, NJ to Begin DP Registration July 10

June 19, 2004

Maplewood's Democratic mayor and township committee, in a strong show of support for the new Domestic Partnership Act, this week agreed to open Town Hall the day the law becomes effective. A party is also planned.

We have a very sizable gay and lesbian community, said Mayor Fred Profeta, a lawyer whose practice includes civil rights cases. The effective day of the act is July 10, which is a Saturday. So in order to celebrate this civil rights victory, the Maplewood clerk's office will be open on Saturday to register partners.

Profeta said he and other local officials are exercising what limited authority they have to send a clear signal in support of domestic partnership, an issue that is still controversial in New Jersey and nationwide.

New Jersey is the fifth state in the nation to officially recognize same-sex coupling. Domestic partner benefits have been granted in California, Massachusetts and Hawaii, and Vermont has approved civil unions.

William Dressel, executive director of the New Jersey League of Municipalities, said Maplewood is not alone. Dressel said his organization sponsored its third workshop on domestic partner registration for municipal officials Tuesday, where a dozen hands went up in response to a straw poll asking how many clerks' offices would be open July 10.

This is a pretty major social change in New Jersey, said Dressel, who said the poll did not record which towns planned to be open that Saturday.

Maplewood is also planning a daylong celebration that day at Memorial Park, including live music, food vendors, and an unofficial group registration ceremony.