SALT LAKE CITY—Two women registered as unmarried domestic partners April 17, the first under a Salt Lake City ordinance.

The city’s registry is promoted as a way for employers to voluntarily extend health care and other benefits to people with domestic partners. They could be gay couples, siblings, long-term roommates and parents.

Applicants have to show some financial interdependence and share a primary residence in Salt Lake City.

Lisa LeDuc and Brandie Balken were the first to sign up at Salt Lake City offices. Seeing a herd of TV cameras, Balken said she was surprised they were suddenly gay celebrities.

Mayor Ralph Becker won unanimous approval for the registry from the Salt Lake City Council in February.

“This is representative of trying to remove discrimination within our community,” Becker said last week.