Missouri Governor Signs Bill Granting Same-Sex Partners Right to Handle End-of-Life Decisions

Gov. Matt Blunt has signed into law a bill that grants same-sex partners the right of sepulchre, which is the right to choose and control the burial, cremation or other final disposition of a dead human body, according to the official Web site of PROMO.

Usually when a person dies the control of their remains automatically goes to their spouse, but because same-sex unions are not legally recognized in Missouri, those rights were not automatically extended to same-sex couples prior to this legislation.

The new law will not grant same-sex couples the same rights as legally married couples, but will allow GLBT people to identify their partner via legal documents as the one who will be responsible for their remains.

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