RI passes civil unions bill; gov intends to sign

[TheNewMe]

http://www.boston.com/news/local/rhode_i...309388290/
RI passes civil unions bill; gov intends to sign
By Ian MacDougall
Associated Press / June 29, 2011

Quote:PROVIDENCE, R.I.—The Rhode Island Senate on Wednesday approved a bill that would allow same-sex couples to enter into civil unions, a measure that Gov. Lincoln Chafee's office says he intends to sign into law.

State senators voted 21-16 to endorse the bill, about two hours after it was voted out of committee. The legislation, which already has passed the state House, allows gay couples to enter into civil unions that offer the same rights and benefits given to married couples under Rhode Island law.

It is now headed to Chafee's desk for his signature. Ahead of the vote, the independent governor called the legislation an "incremental step" toward allowing gay marriage, which he supports....

[PoliticalTiger]

That's good news!

[sandnsea]

Good. And supporting this doesn't mean you're a homophobe.

Just sayin'.

[jaxx]

Good for RI. This is a very positive step. The civil unions are going over well in IL, hell they just raised the "fee" in this county for them and marriage licenses from $20 to $30. No kidding!

[Shea]

Congrats to R.I.!

[SeattleGirl]

Great news!

[TheNewMe]

some gay advocates are unimpressed with the bill, because of an exemptions clause for religious organizations:

Quote:The language that gay-marriage advocates object to states that religious organizations and their employees “shall not be required to” provide services for civil-union ceremonies or “treat as valid any civil union.”

From:
Gay advocates seek veto of civil-union bill
01:00 AM EDT on Wednesday, June 29, 2011
By Randal Edgar
http://www.projo.com/news/content/CHAFEE...5cb30.html

I don't know what impact this would have in practice...

[Cha]

Great~ that's what we have in Hawai'i and would have had sooner but the republicon gov, Linda Lingle, vetoed it in July 2010 but we got it passed and signed after Governor Abercrombie was inaugurated in 2011!