What an incredibly exciting kick-off to Equality Days as many of us were on our way to the Governor’s Mansion for a reception the Senate was meeting to vote on SB283 the Domestic Partnership bill. Since it was only 5:30 and the reception didn’t start till 6PM we stopped in to visit Senator Parks and find out what was up. Rumor was that Senator Raggio had created an amendment that pretty much gutted the bill.

When we got to the legislature building the Senate was not in session so we looked for Senator Parks but he was no where to be found. We found our way to the Senate galley to wait and listen to the proceedings. When we entered the galley it was full of LGBT folks and allies waiting for proceedings to begin. 6PM came and went. Where was everyone? Finally Jan Gilbert from PLAN came into the galley and gave us all a synopsis of what was going on. Senator Parks was caucusing with democratic leadership on strategies for the DP Bill. Senator Raggio was proposing an amendment that would essentially gut the bill. Did democrats have the votes to prevent the passage of Raggio’s bill? No? So what do we do? Well there was lots of talk on that and hopes were high that it might possibly be saved in the Assembly. Emotions ran high as Jan Gilbert explained the situation. She thanked everyone for showing up and supporting Senator Parks who is essentially the only “out” legislator in Nevada.

Another hour went by and now we were getting hungry but we knew we were where history was about to be made one way or another so we sat and waited. Then David Parks came onto the Senate floor and when he saw all of us in the galley he came up. We cheered him and he shook everyones hand. He thanked us for coming and we thanked him for his efforts. He explained what was happening once again and we all shook our heads. Questions were asked and then the rest of the Senate started to come onto the floor. The proceedings were about to begin. Being new to this I watched in fascination as one by one bills were passed or failed. I waited in what seemed like forever for DP283 and to come up for a vote. Senator Raggio’s amendment came up first. Senator Raggio spoke for it, Senator Parks spoke in opposition. They took the vote and it failed, yahoo! But that was only half the battle. Now Senator Park’s amendment on SB283 comes up for a vote. Senator’s Raggio, Townsend and Washington come after Senator Parks with a barrage of questions, but mostly Senator Washington. Finally a floor vote is taken where each Senator’s vote are highlighted in red (nay), green (yay) and one by we watch as the yays total 12 and nays total 9. We want to respect the process but can’t help clapping. Then we mass exit the galley and the celebration begins. It is 8:30 now and people from the reception are showing up at just the right time. We rush down to the Senate floor exit to wait for Senator Parks. We are crying, hugging, jubilant and another step closer to making DP in Nevada a reality. It goes to the Assembly next with the Governor threatening to veto. Right now, it does not matter. We are LGBT Nevadans working together for the first time ever and all is good!

When Senator Parks comes into the hallway we applaud him and the hugs and photos begin. He is humble, happy and exhausted but he takes time with us in the hall and up in the conference room 3100. We celebrate our victory with hope. Senator Parks invites us all to a restaurant across the street to continue the celebration so there we all go, about 50 of us celebrating a new day.