Background: In 1999, the Legislature and governor created a
domestic partnership registry primarily for gays and lesbians,
but also for heterosexual couples aged 62 and older. The program
has been expanded to give registered couples many of the rights
and responsibilities of marriage. What's changing: On Nov. 4,
Californians will vote on Proposition 8, an initiative to ban
same-sex marriages made legal by a state Supreme Court ruling in
May. The future: If voters reject it, the state may face
discrimination accusations if it does not allow all heterosexual
couples access to the domestic partner program. SACRAMENTO – If
California voters take a stand in favor of same-sex marriage
Nov. 4, it could ignite a fresh debate over another hard-won gay
right – domestic partnerships. The question would be: Should gay
and lesbian couples retain the domestic partnership option when
that's not available to most heterosexual couples? “It's a very
significant and compelling legal issue,” said Brad Sears,
executive director o