The 50 Spot: DP Benefits in New Mexico and Colorado, Hate Crime in Minnesota

It's your Monday afternoon round-up of LGBT news from around the 50 states.  Today we're looking at the push for domestic partnership benefits in New Mexico and Colorado, an apparent hate crime in Minnesota, and civil unions in Hawaii.

New Mexico:  House Bill 21 and Senate Bill 12 - pieces of legislation that would create a domestic partnership registry in the state of New Mexico - are picking up steam throughout the state.  Tomorrow, commissioners in Doña Ana County are expected to endorse a county-wide resolution calling for the passage of HB 21 and SB 12. Doña Ana County, home to New Mexico's second-largest city (Las Cruces), represents nearly 175,000 people in the state.  The resolution, submitted by County Commissioner Karen Perez, will argue in favor of the DP registry to allow committed "heterosexual and homosexual partners to formally register their partnerships in the county clerk's office" and "enjoy all the benefits and assume all the legal obligations granted to married partners" in the state.  It might not be full marriage equality, but the DP registry in New Mexico certainly is a stepping stone.

Hawaii:  Speaking of momentum in favor of LGBT rights, there's renewed support in Hawaii's legislature to pass a statewide law to recognize civil unions between same-sex couples.  If passed and signed by the Governor, Hawaii would join New Jersey, Hew Hampshire and Vermont as states that recognize civil unions.  The bill is currently in the House Judiciary Committee, although 32 representatives (out of a total of 51) have signed on to support the bill, almost assuring its passage in the House.  From there it moves to the State Senate, where things get a little dicey.  The Senate's Judiciary and Government Operations Committee would have to approve the measure first, and support is divided with three Senators favoring civil unions, two against, and one unknown.

Colorado: Aurora, Colorado might be the next city to recognize same-sex domestic partnership benefits.  City Council is expected to vote on a measure tonight - after a similar effort failed in 2007 - which would grant same-sex couples health, dental, life, vision and COBRA coverage under Aurora’s insurance program, and perhaps extend emergency and family/medical leave rights to same-sex domestic partners.  The plan just barely passed a January 12 hearing, with the Mayor casting a tie-breaking vote to allow the measure to be voted upon by the entire City Council.  No word on how the vote will move tonight, but it's likely to be close.

Minnesota:  While the first three entires in today's 50 spot are positive, this one ain't so good.  An apparent hate crime was reported in Minneapolis, Minnesota last Thursday, in the city's predominantly LGBT-friendly Uptown neighborhood.  Thirty-two year old Kristen Boyne was on her way to the grocery store, when she was attacked by two men who beat her until she suffered a concussion and was unconscious, shouting anti-gay slurs at her the entire time.  As Lori Wilson wrote in the Minneapolis City Guide Examiner, "It's sadly ironic that such a crime occurred here, considering Uptown's reputation for being such a tolerant and progressive area. But close-mindedness festers hate and intolerance, which can make even the most inclusive city become the most exclusive to such acts."