Unmarried couples in Miami-Dade won the right to hospital and jail visitation on Tuesday, following an 8-4 vote by the County Commission, and county employees will be able to buy health coverage for their partners.

Couples will be able to register their partnerships with the county's Consumer Services Department by late August. The system is open to unmarried, nonrelated couples -- gay or straight -- who are at least 18 and live together.

''It's a matter of compassion, a matter of correcting an injustice, a matter of moving forward as a progressive county,'' said Commissioner Katy Sorenson.

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