Congratulations, Nevada!

And Nevada joins the ranks of states that have acknowledged some level of same-sex relationship. Yesterday, the Nevada Assembly passed the domestic partner law over the governmental veto 28-14 (barely 2/3 to override):

The bill provides that domestic partners have the same rights as married couples in matters such as community property and responsibility for debts. It also prohibits discrimination against domestic partners.

Critics contended that domestic partners can sign private contracts to accomplish many of the goals of the bill, and that it conflicted with the intent of Nevadans who voted in 2002 for a constitutional amendment supporting marriage between a man and a woman.

The measure states, among other things, that no "solemnization ceremony" is required and it's "left to the dictates and conscience of partners entering into a domestic partnership" whether to have such a ceremony.

Currently, Nevada's constitution has a legal definition as between a man and a woman, but, unlike Ohio's which bans anything that looks like marriage, it is a little more lenient.

Congratulations to Nevada!