Although discussions about extending inheritance rights to gay couples are not new, they received new attention after San Carlos resident Keith Bradkowski initiated a campaign after losing his partner, Jeff Collman, in the Sept. 11 terrorist attack. Collman, 41, was an American Airlines flight attendant aboard one of the planes that crashed into the World Trade Center.

Bradkowski, 45, may not benefit from the new law, which takes effect July 2003. But he says the law is an important protection for all registered domestic partners and a testament to Collman's memory.

Under the new law, a registered domestic partner is granted the same rights as a surviving dependent or parent to inherit property from a deceased partner without a will.

Local gay couples have embraced the news, saying it's another step forward in the struggle for gay rights.

"It's a great positive next step," says Skip Horne, who moved to Willow Glen with his partner, Andy Ceperley, six months ago. "California is the leading edge again in supporting gay and lesbian rights."

Horne and Ceperley registered as domestic partners in March 2000. California became the first state to legally recognize same-sex couples in 1999. There are 15,000 gay and lesbian couples registered with California's Secretary of State.

Photograph by Jacqueline Ramseyer What is a family? Skip Horne, above, and Andy Ceperley have been domestic partners for the past seven years.

"It normally happens when you are not looking for someone," says Ceperley, wearing a Domino's Pizza T-shirt with a logo that reads "Bad Andy. Good Pizza." Horne bought the T-shirt last year for Ceperley's 40th birthday.

A framed Evita poster still hangs on the wall in their kitchen.

The couple has moved from state to state because of job changes. They came to Willow Glen six months ago partly because of its location and the unique nature of the community.

"My friend told us that Willow Glen is a place of charm and character," Horne says. "She is right. And the coffee shops are within walking distance."

Willow Glen is also close to Santa Clara University, where Ceperley works as a director for the school's career center and as an assistant dean for the law school's career services.

"We never look for a place simply because it will be the place for gay people," Ceperley says. "We want to be part of a diverse community."

Ceperley says it turns out Willow Glen is not only a gay-friendly community but also has a large gay population.

"Willow Glen and Rose Garden have the two largest gay communities in San Jose," says Ronald L. Schoof, deputy director of the Billy DeFrank Lesbian & Gay Community Center on the Alameda.

He says gay people are attracted to the two neighborhoods because they are well-established, upscale areas, where people are better educated and more open-minded.

No official research or statistics are available to support Schoof's argument, since the U.S. Census does not research same-sex domestic partners. Since same-sex marriage is still illegal in the United States, gay couples can only define themselves as "unmarried partners" instead of "spouses."

But a casual observation may show Schoof is right.

Dan Goldston, a Rose Garden resident, says two of his 15 neighbors on Magnolia Avenue are gay. Openly gay San Jose District 6 Councilman Ken Yeager also lives in the Rose Garden neighborhood.

In Willow Glen, it is not unusual to see gay couples walking down Lincoln Avenue hand in hand. While many denominations ban homosexuality, two churches in Willow Glen—the Stone Church of Willow Glen and the Center for Spiritual Living—welcome members regardless of their sexual orientation.

Despite its seemingly large gay population, Ceperley says it would be inaccurate to categorize Willow Glen as a "gay community."

"Willow Glen is not a gay ghetto," Ceperley says. "Gays and lesbians live among everyone else. That there isn't a neighborhood specifically for gay people is actually a good sign. It shows we can be who we are."

His next-door neighbor, David Bruner, agrees.

"There are gay people in Willow Glen, but there is not a gay community here," says Bruner. He and his partner, Adam Busenburg, will register as domestic partners in October on their fifth anniversary.

"There is no centralized openness toward sexual orientation. In Willow Glen or in the greater San Jose area everyone is integrated in the general population."

As a result, Bruner says, he felt lonely when he moved to Willow Glen two years ago from West Hollywood, which he believes qualifies as a gay community. But he has gradually learned to appreciate Willow Glen's culture for what it is.

"I feel residents are united by their sameness, their sense of community, rather than divided by their differences," says Bruner, a minister at the Center for Spiritual Living.

The sense of community is also what Ceperley likes most about Willow Glen.

"I attended a community meeting two weeks ago," Ceperley says. "I was impressed by the momentum of residents to keep Willow Glen a lovely place to live."

Ceperley says he has received several emails from Yeager, who regularly provides updates on community developments. He and Horne just joined the Willow Glen Neighborhood Association.

In addition to being active in the community, Ceperley and Horne are members of the Silicon Valley Gay Men's Chorus. They just started rehearsing for a December concert in which they will sing traditional holiday carols and a one-act operetta.

Although in Willow Glen they have found a supportive neighborhood where they can be themselves and live openly as a couple, the road here hasn't been short or easy for either.

While Horne always knew he wasn't attracted to women, he didn't tell his parents until he was 27. He wrote a long letter to his parents and left home for a week. When he returned, his parents had a long conversation with him. To his surprise, his father is very understanding, while his mother still refuses to accept it.

Photograph by Jacqueline Ramseyer Registered Union: Skip Horne and Andy Ceperley show the rings they wear as a symbol of their partnership.

"I love him, and he loves me. That's the common ground," Ceperley says.

Perhaps because of the difficulties they have been through, the couple particularly treasures the family they have created with two cats they adopted from the Humane Society of Santa Clara Valley.

"Although several major job changes and moving bring a lot of stress, we never think about leaving each other," Horne says.

When people compliment the two on their good relationship, Ceperley recounts a comment that a friend made on his 25th anniversary with his partner.

"He said, 'We never thought about becoming role models. We're not keeping score. We just live our lives.' "