Chafee Signs Civil Union Bill With Reservations
Despite exemption that "eviscerates" "important rights", governor OKs law.
Governor Lincoln Chafee signed H 6103, "An Act Related to Domestic Relations – Civil Unions” into law this morning, though he says it fails to provide equal rights to all citizens. Chafee wrote in his signing statement that although the law permits officials to certify people in civil unions, it also "provides a religious exemption of unparalleled and alarming scope." The exemption in question is under § 15-3.1-5(a)(3) of the law: "No religious organization or its employees may be required “to treat as valid any civil union.” That exemption, "gives these institutions and their employees the choice of refusing to recognize civil unions. As a result, a party to a civil union could be denied the right to make medical decisions for his or her…
bustopher1
7:27 am on Sunday, July 3, 2011
This would be fine if all marriges were suddenly declared "civil unions" and subject to the same exemption as is contained in this worthless piece of legislation. As it is, it is just another insult to the LGBT community. The Governor was right in saying that the exemption defeats the intent of the act. He is wrong in signing it though. He should have vetoed it and thrown it back in the laps of … more ›