Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons Vetoes Domestic Partnership Bill

Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons vetoed on Monday the bill that would allow same- and opposite-sex couples to become legal domestic partners with many of the rights and privileges of married couples, according to the Advocate.

In his veto message, Gibbons said he rejected state Senate Bill 283 because it goes against the wishes of Nevada voters who in 2002 approved the Protection of Marriage constitutional amendment. That amendment stipulates a marriage can only be entered between a man and a woman.
    
However, the governor said his veto should not be taken to mean he believes that "domestic partners are in any way undeserving of rights and protections."

He said that on Saturday he signed a bill to prevent discrimination in public accommodations based on one's sexual orientation.

The bill passed the state Senate 12-9, two votes short of the two-thirds needed to override a veto, and the Assembly 26-14, also two votes short. An attempt to override the veto would begin in the state Senate, and be forwarded to the Assembly only if 14 or more senators vote for the override.

Many businesses pleaded with the governor to endorse the bill emphasizing the critical economic repercussion on tourism. Harrah's Entertainment officials said last week that Las Vegas might lose the business of same-sex couples if the Legislature does not override the veto and pointed to an estimated $700 billion in buying power among potential lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender customers.

It was not  clear yet if the Legislature would seek to override Gibbons' veto.