Lincoln Chafee Demands Out-Of-State Same-Sex Marriage Be Recognized In Rhode Island

Lincoln Chafee, governor of Rhode Island, signed an order on Monday declaring that the state must recognize same-sex marriages performed elsewhere, giving gay couples the same rights as heterosexual ones when it comes to health insurance and a slew of other benefits.

Take that, Colorado.

Take that, North Carolina.

Take that, GOP.

The order directs state agencies to recognize marriages performed out of state as legal and treat same-sex married couples the same as heterosexual ones because gay couples, married outside Rhode Island--where civil unions are allowed, but gay marriage is illegal--are not afforded certain rights because state law is not clear on the subject.

Back in 2007, then-Attorney General Patrick Lynch issued an opinion in favor of recognizing out-of-state same-sex marriages, but it was nonbinding. Chafee said his signing of the executive order is “following through” on that opinion.

Now, in Rhode Island, same-sex spouses of state employees and anyone covered by an insurance company regulated in Rhode Island will be entitled to health and life insurance benefits; both partners in a same-sex couple will be able to list their names as parents on a child’s birth certificate; same-sex couples will be entitled to sales tax exemptions on the transfer of property including vehicles.

But, it's not about money and exemptions and health insurance, and parenting rights. It’s about equality. It's about having the union of a committed couple, of committed adults, be recognized as equal.

You heard the President say it, and now it's time for everyone to get in line and join the Evolution.

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Tiny State Takes A Giant Step

In his inaugural speech, newly elected Governor Lincoln Chafee announced that it was time for Rhode Island to enact marriage equality legislation, and the little state that just might, is wasting no time.

Today, Representative Arthur Handy will re-introduce into the Rhode Island House a bill to allow for same-sex nuptials. Cranston has already lined up 27 co-sponsors and was hoping for more, but will introduce the bill no matter what the number in hopes of spurring an early-session hearing and vote on the measure.

Besides Handy, the other lead sponsors include Democratic Representatives Frank Ferri, Edith Ajello, Deborah Deborah Ruggiero, and openly gay House Speaker Gordon Fox, who said, “I would like it done earlier than later, only because later you get into budget issues and your focus sort of changes.”

The bill's chances in the Senate are a bit more uncertain because Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed says she is personally opposed to equality. Okay, maybe she didn't say it exactly like that, but that's exactly what she means.

Handy's bill is identical to one he introduced last year, declaring marriage to be a “legal institution recognized by the state in order to promote stable relationships and to protect individuals who are in those relationships.” The bill offers a list of eligibility requirements for two people to marry, regardless of gender, but allows that no one can marry a long list of relatives, including a parent, grandparent, sibling or child of a sibling. And, before the churches gets their robes in a twist, the bill also makes it clear that no religious institution would be required to perform a civil marriage if it conflicted with its teachings.

And, of course, one politico, another Democrat, Jon Brien, promised to reintroduce legislation that would take the decision--which he calls highly personal--out of the hands of the state’s 113 legislators by requiring a public referendum. 

Yes letting the majority vote on denying rights to the minority. That's equality.

Fox opposes such a referendum, calling same-sex marriage a civil-rights issue: “Civil-rights issues should be dealt with in the bodies that were elected to do the work of the people. This is where those decisions should be made."

Here's hoping that Rhode Island takes that giant step.

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Quote Of The Day

Lincoln Chafee, former Senator from Rhode Island:

Earlier this month, the New Hampshire legislature took another step in our country's ongoing struggle to ensure full equality for gays and lesbians by voting to permit same-sex couples in their state to legally enter into civil marriages. The vote.... leaves Rhode Island as the only New England state that does not permit same-sex marriage.

To me, the issue of same-sex marriage boils down to a question of basic fairness. Gays and lesbians have contributed to the diverse fabric of Rhode Island and the rest of the country for generations, strengthening our communities in innumerable ways. We all know someone who is openly gay or lesbian, and almost all of us share the same basic aspirations: a safe town and an affordable home to live in; a good job to provide us and our families with economic security; good schools for our children; quality health care; and, perhaps most importantly, someone to love and share our lives with. Once you acknowledge that homosexuality exists not by choice, the next obvious step is to grant gays and lesbians the same liberties and freedoms as every other American.

As a proud Rhode Islander who thinks of my state as a leader when it comes to treating others with dignity and respect, it troubles me to think we've fallen behind in granting our gay and lesbian family members and friends something as fundamentally important as the right to have their relationships fully recognized by the state.

Full quote HERE