The Town of North Hempstead is about to consider establishing a domestic partner registry. At the July 20 town board meeting, Town Councilman Wayne Wink introduced the legislation and a public hearing was set for Tuesday, Aug. 31, 7:30 p.m., at Town Hall.

The vote to introduce the legislation was unanimous and Mr. Wink anticipates adoption of this new law. "I am sure we will have more than enough votes," Mr. Wink told the Great Neck Record in an interview the next day. "I am confident we will pass this ... based on conversations I have had (with his fellow council members)," he said.

North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jon Kaiman said that he also "anticipates that this legislation will succeed." Supervisor Kaiman was quick to "commend Councilman Wink for taking the lead on this issue." The supervisor said that this is "an important piece of legislation for the Town of North Hempstead" and that he is "looking forward to the hearing on Aug. 31."

Mr. Wink introduced the legislation in an effort to support families and long-term relationships. "It seems that government should be willing to do what it can, in these trying times, to foster loving, committed relationships," he stated. He continued, adding, "Unfortunately, this is a very modest step, but it is the only one we are allowed."

Councilman Wink explained that such a regulation, under town law, "allows us to assist both heterosexual and same sex couples provide evidence of a relationship for health benefits and other such benefits."

And such evidence is crucial, says John Hirsch. Mr. Hirsch and his longtime partner, Herbert Leiman, are noted equal rights activists and were the first to sign the domestic partner registry in North Hills. "We do what we do for all the people out there who can't step forward," Mr. Hirsch told the Record, as he explained that, although there has been much progress over the years in the gay rights movement, "it's still not a perfect world" and it can be quite difficult for domestic partners to exercise their rights.

Mr. Hirsch said that, even if a company does permit health coverage for a domestic partner, it can still be a lengthy process, with many documents required, to prove the relationship and gain the coverage. Conversely, in the same company a heterosexual couple need only say they are married, and name their spouse, to gain the coverage.

Last fall the Village of Great Neck Plaza adopted a domestic partner registry, right on the heels of the news-making legislation in the nearby Village of North Hills last summer. The Plaza was the first village on the Great Neck peninsula to adopt such a local law and the Village of Great Neck followed with the adoption of a similar domestic partner registry law in January of this year.

A domestic partner registry already exists in New York City and several other local municipalities in the state adopted such legislation as early as last year, including Roslyn Estates, East Hampton and Southampton.

With adoption in the town, the legislation would allow any town resident (whether or not they are in a village with a domestic partner registry) to register, according to Town Clerk Michele Schimel.

"We need to do all we can," Mr. Wink emphasized.