Though fewer
rights are included, it costs a dollar more to register for
a domestic partnership in New York City than for
a marriage certificate.
According to a
report in The New York Times, Mayor Michael R.
Bloomberg's office has asked the city's law department
to reduce the fee for registering a domestic partnership
from $36 to $35 so that the two fees will be the same.
"It's ridiculous," Alan Van Capelle,
executive director of the gay rights advocacy group
Empire State Pride Agenda, said to the Times.
"You pay more for less rights. It's like
nouvelle cuisine in the restaurants -- less food on a plate,
but you pay more money."
Marriage fees are
subject to state approval, but domestic-partnership
registration fees are set by the city alone. The city clerk
asked the city's Office of Management and
Budget to determine a fair fee for
domestic-partnership registration, including processing and
other costs, resulting in the $36 fee. (The
Advocate)