By
The Associated Press
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The state Supreme Court declined to hear arguments on a domestic partnership law allowing unmarried partners to receive some of the same benefits as married couples.
A conservative legal foundation had asked the court to declare the Broward County ordinance in violation of the state's Defense of Marriage Act, which prohibits legal recognition of same-sex relationships.
The action ends a long legal battle that began when the county agreed in 1999 to grant partnership benefits to same-sex and heterosexual couples.
"We are just getting the rights that belong to us," said Fort Lauderdale resident Richard Rogers, who has been with his partner Bill Mullins for 38 years. "We fought hard for this. We're proud the court had common sense."
Couples who register their relationships with the county are granted the same rights as married couples at hospitals, jails and other county facilities. They can name their partners to make health care decisions and serve as their guardians if they are disabled.
The partners of unmarried county employees can receive insurance benefits, and employees can use sick leave and bereavement leave to care for their partners.
More than 1,000 unmarried homosexual and heterosexual couples have registered their relationships in the last two years.
Lawyers for the Viriginia-based Northstar Legal Center said they would not appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
"The court battle is over," lawyer Jordan Lorence said in Saturday's editions of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
He said opponents of the law could seek a referendum to overturn it or push state legislators to outlaw such ordinances.
