Cottonwood has become the latest Arizona city to allow civil unions. The city counsel voted Tuesday to allow couples to enter into a legal domestic partnership, regardless of gender.
That vote was six to one, with Vice Mayor Karen Pfeifer casting the dissenting vote. The ordinance will go into effect in 30 days and follows a similar one in Sedona. Registered couples will able to file a list of documents such as custody agreements and powers of attorney with the city.
Cottonwood already prohibited discrimination among city employees based on sexual orientation, but the benefits afforded to those employees in domestic partnerships did not extend to all residents. Bisbee was the first in Arizona to approve civil unions, with Tucson, Jerome and Clarkdale following.
