Miami-Dade - Florida's largest county - begins its domestic partnership registry today, starting at 10am. The registry entitles domestic partners to visitation rights at healthcare, correctional and juvenile facilities, and extends health insurance and employee benefits to the domestic partners of county employees.

To file a declaration of domestic partnership, applicants must register with the Miami-Dade Consumer Services Department, after which the department will issue a certificate reflecting the registration of the domestic partnership relationship in Miami-Dade County. You can get more information here.

Other counties in Florida already have these benefits, like Broward, Monroe, and Palm Beach. These benefits could be short lived, however, if the so called "Marriage Protection" Amendment passes in November. The ambiguous language of Amendment 2 would repeal domestic partnership registries, much like what happened when Michigan passed a similar amendment.

For information on how to get involved in the campaign against the amendment or to make a contribution, go to www.SayNo2.com.