December 21, 2007 -- Despite protests, the registry is approved for unmarried couples.
The controversial domestic registry has been up and running in Toledo for just a few hours.
Already a few couples have stopped by One Government Center to sign up. At noon, four couples had registered as domestic partners.
Toledo city council passed the ordinance establishing a domestic partnership registry back on November 21.
After the ordiance was first introduced, several groups and people including Bishop Leonard Blair spoke out against it. The bisphop said creating an ordinance allowing unmarried couples to receive benefits typically reserved for married couples devalues the institution of marriage.
Despite the outcry, Mayor Carty Finkbeiner signed off on the ordinance.
Registering as domestic partners would give couples the opportunity to utilize their partner's health insurance benefits if their employer recognizes the partnership.