Being in a same sex relationship in Florida isn’t easy. Besides everyday relationship struggles, those in same sex relationships have to work around the rights that heterosexual couples have that they do not. Same sex partners will often experience difficulties in estate planning, child custody, medical consent, etc. when they are considering how to best provide for their partner and family.
Equal rights for same sex partners
Recent gains have been made in the fight for equal rights for same sex partners in other states, which gives hope to those in Florida. While the most recent news is focused on New York legalizing gay marriage, there are other small gains to consider as well. For example, the state of Illinois recently passed the Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act, which further defined the term “partners in a civil union” to include same sex couples. This act, which came into effect in June 2011, offers partners joined in a civil union the same protections, benefits, and responsibilities under law as granted to spouses in a marriage and also includes same sex partners in the terms “spouse”, “family”, “next of kin”, etc.
Some companies are already stepping up and adapting to the new laws. For example, internet insurance company Esurance, which already offered savings to same sex couples in California, Oregon, and Washington, now also offers savings to those in Illinois.
Florida’s laws same sex partners
While Florida’s laws may be behind other states when it comes to same sex relationships, there have been some advancements. Many cities in Florida now have laws protecting from discrimination based on gender identity or expression as well as discrimination in public employment, and Florida legislation has added sexual orientation and gender identity or expression as protected categories to the Florida Civil Rights Act as of 2009. Recently, Florida courts affirmed that gay couples have the right to adopt.
