RI passes civil unions, not everyone ready to celebrate
Wed. June 29, 2011 7:22 PM by GoPride.com News Staff
Gay marriage advocates call religious exemptions in RI civil unions bill, "dangerous"
Providence, R.I. -
The Rhode Island state Senate on Wednesday evening approved a bill allowing civil unions for gay couples. Gov. Lincoln Chafee, an independent, is expected to sign the bill, which already passed in the state's House of Representatives.
Openly gay state Rep. Gordon Fox said the legislation is a compromise because he didn't have enough votes to pass a same-sex marriage bill. Fox has drawn sharp criticism from gay marriage supporters who said separate is never equal.
The legislation includes an amendment that allows any religious entity to ignore the civil union of a gay couple, which has outraged gay marriage advocacy groups. The measure could allow religious hospitals to refuse a civil union spouse the right to make emergency medical decisions.
Marriage Equality, the state's largest gay rights group, called the amendment "dangerous" and has said it would ask Chafee to veto the bill if the religious exemptions are not removed.
State senators voted 21-16 to endorse the bill, that will grant gay and lesbian couples most of the rights and benefits of marriage couples.
Once signed, Rhode Island will join Illinois, Delaware and Hawaii in offering civil unions or domestic partnerships.
Earlier this month, New York became the six and most populous state to allow gay marriage, joining Iowa, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut and the District of Columbia.
Openly gay state Rep. Gordon Fox said the legislation is a compromise because he didn't have enough votes to pass a same-sex marriage bill. Fox has drawn sharp criticism from gay marriage supporters who said separate is never equal.
The legislation includes an amendment that allows any religious entity to ignore the civil union of a gay couple, which has outraged gay marriage advocacy groups. The measure could allow religious hospitals to refuse a civil union spouse the right to make emergency medical decisions.
Marriage Equality, the state's largest gay rights group, called the amendment "dangerous" and has said it would ask Chafee to veto the bill if the religious exemptions are not removed.
State senators voted 21-16 to endorse the bill, that will grant gay and lesbian couples most of the rights and benefits of marriage couples.
Once signed, Rhode Island will join Illinois, Delaware and Hawaii in offering civil unions or domestic partnerships.
Earlier this month, New York became the six and most populous state to allow gay marriage, joining Iowa, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut and the District of Columbia.