(AP) – The Topeka city council is being asked to create a domestic partners registry to make it easier for unmarried couples to legally acknowledge their relationships.

The Topeka chapter of the Kansas Equality Coalition held a news conference Monday to ask the council to establish the registry by the end of the year.

“Domestic partners” generally refers to unmarried adult couples, regardless of gender, who are in a committed relationship. Registering can make it easier for the couples to get benefits such as health care and hospital visitation rights.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that Topeka Councilman Andrew Gray says he’ll bring the ordinance before the council at a work session next week. He says a registry is a
way to show that Topeka is a tolerant city.