Legislature Strikes Ordinances Requiring Domestic Partner Benefits

Atlanta Journal Constitution

By Sonji Jacobs

March 17, 2005 

A proposal that would void an Atlanta city ordinance requiring associations such as the Druid Hills Golf Club to extend marriage benefits to gay couples cleared its final hurdle in the General Assembly on Thursday.

With very little debate, the state Senate voted 37-11 in favor of House Bill 67. The measure now goes to Gov. Sonny Perdue to be signed into law.

House Rules Committee Chairman Earl Ehrhart (R-Powder Springs) introduced the bill, which would prevent local governments across Georgia from enacting laws requiring organizations to extend domestic benefits to gay couples.

The measure cleared the House by a vote of 124-39, despite protests from Atlanta area lawmakers. Although the bill does not specifically name the city of Atlanta and Druid Hills Golf Club, it is directly aimed at nullifying the city's human rights ordinance.

In December, Mayor Shirley Franklin said she planned to start fining the club for violating the ordinance, up to a maximum of $90,000. The club responded by filing suit against the city, arguing the ordinance violates the state constitution.

Sen. John Wiles (R-Marietta) carried the bill in the Senate.

"There's no right for a city government, state government or county government to provide benefits to unmarried persons," Wiles said from the Senate well.

Sen. Vincent Fort (D-Atlanta) said that legislators were using the issue of domestic benefits for gay couples to pander to voters.

Last year, the General Assembly approved a proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. Georgia voters overwhelmingly approved the amendment Nov. 2.

"We use the term 'local control' in education and law enforcement," Fort said. "But when it comes to discrimination ... we don't want local control. When it comes to the city of Atlanta, local control means nothing. It means nothing at all. It's the height of hypocrisy."