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Loading ...RI gov reconsiders gay civil rights
Thanks to a meeting with gay activists, Rhode Island Gov. Carcieri now says he’s open to a domestic partnership bill – just two days after vetoing a bill which would have given domestic partners the right to make funeral arrangements.
Reports The Providence Journal:“Maybe it’s something we should consider,” said Carcieri, after meeting privately Thursday for more than an hour in his office with a half-dozen members of Queer Action of Rhode Island, a group that in the immediate aftermath of his veto had labeled him “a bigot.”
Among those attending was Mark Goldberg, the Providence East Sider whose five-week battle to claim the body of his partner of 17 years from the state morgue, had sparked the vetoed legislation.
Citing as a possible model the “everything but marriage” referendum that won approval in the state of Washington earlier this month, Carcieri said: “I don’t know enough, yet. All I am saying is I understand the circumstances. I understand the difficulties” that can arise for same-sex couples and others — such as widows living with widowers, and widows with other widows — outside the legal framework of a traditional marriage.
“Let’s see if we can find a way to solve that without discreet [pieces] of legislation every time something comes up. I just don’t think that is the right way to deal with it,” he said.
“I believe this tactic is included strictly to make it difficult to turn civil unions into marriages once marriage is legalized in RI.”
Or rather: create civil unions to prevent marriage.
I absolutely agree with the demented scumf*ck – introducing a new piece of legislation every time a situation arises that outlines the discrimination towards gay individuals and same-sex couples is not the answer. The legislation he vetoed is not the answer – it was, and is, absolutely vital, but there is a much better answer.
The answer – a single law granting to same-sex couples and gay individuals all the rights and privileges available to opposite sex couples and heterosexual individuals. It’s not complicated. Passing and implementing the legislation wouldn’t be easy, but the answer is hardly difficult to see.
Lawmakers have a choice. They can give us our rights a bit at a time, or they can give us all our rights in one go. The only choice they cannot make is to take the action this festering turd did and veto important legislation.
As for his apparent turnaround, either conversations with LGBT individuals has genuinely changed his mind, or he still has political ambitions and felt those ambitions could have been threatened by the backlash to his actions. His words are nice to hear, but they’re also meaningless unless they’re followed by action. Either he needs to withdraw his veto and sign the damn legislation, or rapidly begin work on an alternative. Anything short, and his words just add insult to injury.
@WayneM–Amen!
Why do I not trust this? Who the hell changes their mind so completely in two days? I see Lucy teeing up the football now…
If the governor really is serious about his change of heart, he can begin by withdrawing his veto against the funeral rights bill.
This religious bigot obviously isn’t aware that religiouc cults have full representation without taxation while LGBT have taxation, lots of it without full representation, virtually none. We call this a democracy? Something terribly wrong with that equation. Time to add it to the marriage equality debate. Its relevant and necessary.
“Let’s see if we can find a way to solve that without discreet [sic] [pieces] of legislation every time something comes up.”
Translation: You LGBT’s are icky. Let’s lump in some other people so I don’t have to think about you.
I believe this tactic is included strictly to make it difficult to turn civil unions into marriages once marriage is legalized in RI.
>“Let’s see if we can find a way to solve that without discreet [pieces] of legislation every time something comes up. I just don’t think that is the right way to deal with it,” he said.
Marriage equality and a domestic partnership law that included non-romantic partners would do the trick. That would be efficient.
He is correct, though, in that you don’t want a separate law for every legal benefit afforded by marriage or some type of civil union. It’s just that he’s using that as an excuse for inaction. And what’s this “I don’t know enough”? Has he avoided reading all news in the past seven or eight years?!
The Mayor of Providence (Cicilline) has stated he has no plans to run for governor (which is good because there would be no chance of him winning). The current Lt. Gov. (Elizabeth Roberts, D) who is also in favor of marriage equality has also stated she would not run (shame too, because she’d probably win).
So the race for governor is up in the air. After Carcieri, it probably will not be another Republican. The thing to look out for is an up and coming third party in Rhode Island called the Moderate Party. The state is pretty much a single-party state under the Democrats and they are ALL corrupt (as are the Republicans). People are disgusted with both parties and the Moderate Party could actually take control of Rhode Island.
While the Moderate Party has not made an official stance on marriage equality (or any other social issues for that matter), I have spoken to the leader of the Party, Ken Block, who is in favor of marriage equality.
Glad to hear that he’s not completely intolerant, then, and that someone talked some sense into him. I hadn’t known Carcieri was termed out–good to know.
365, Carcieri is termed out so he won’t be running again anyway. The mayor of Providence is an openly gay man. Perhaps he’d like to be governor?
It’s a Good Thing that he admits “I don’t know enough yet” about his own homophobia. How can he actually think it’s alright to keep a beloved partner from claiming his/her beloved’s body? Where’s my barf-bag?
I’m glad we’re so much more well informed nowadays, and I think people are realizing that the LGBT community has a sharp memory and a grudge that won’t quit. That was a mighty quick turnaround but I don’t care – I hope this guy gets voted out quick. He actually said “I don’t know enough, yet.”? Amazing thoughtless and callous deeds done without prior thought are hardly excusable, and this particular instance is cute in a way. Understatement of the month award goes to this guy since the putz couldn’t think about that the first time around.
I think this state could actually simply put gay marriage on the popular vote and win. Look at the polls. 61% aprove of gay marriages. I can’t wait to go to Johnson and wales university in a state this accepting. I’m rooting for the smallest state to take the biggest leap and give gays rights via the popular vote.
That yellow-bellied bastard!