Rhode Island Governor Chafee Signs Same-Sex Civil Unions Legislation; Admits Misgivings That Law Falls Short Of Offering Marriage Equality

In a small ceremony Saturday morning in his office, Rhode Island Governor Chafee signed into law legislation legalizing civil unions for same-sex couples, The Providence Journal reporting that the governor was joined by House Speaker Gordon Fox and Representative Frank Ferri, D-Warwick. "I am signing this bill," Chafee said in his signing statement, "because I believe that same sex couples should have the same legal rights, benefits, protections and responsibilities as heterosexual couples." In his statement, the governor noted he had continued misgivings with the legislation -- religious exemptions that increased opposition to the bill from marriage-equality supporters. "Although this measure is a step forward, it fails to fully achieve those goals in its present form," he wrote. "First it fails to extend full marriage equality to all Rhode Islanders, a civil right that I strongly support and urged the General Assembly to enact," adding "Second, I believe that one of the bill's religious exemptions is too broad." Chafee cited section 15-3.1-5(a) (3), which he said provided "a religious exemption of unparalleled and alarming scope." Chafee wrote that "Religious organizations operate hospitals, cemeteries, schools and community centers. As drafted, the bill gives these institutions and their employees the choice of refusing to recognize civil unions." Civil unions legislation, sponsored by Representative Peter J. Petrarca, D-Lincoln, emerged in early May after Speaker Fox, who is openly gay and a supporter of same-sex marriage, announced that support was lacking for same-sex marriage legislation. Despite opposition from many marriage-equality advocates, the compromise legislation passed the Senate, 21 to 16, on Wednesday night during the General Assembly's mad dash to finish its session. With the governor's signing, the law is effective immediately. Rhode Island becomes the fifth state, along with New Jersey, Illinois, Delaware and Hawaii, to recognize civil unions. The bill defines civil unions as "a legal union between two individuals of the same sex," and provides for the same state "rights, benefits, protections, and responsibilities," as marriage. "It is appropriate on this weekend when we celebrate the struggle made by our founders to bring rights to the people of a new nation," said Fox in a statement, "that in the same spirit, we are guaranteeing rights to many Rhode Islanders who have fought so long for them." Fox added that "I remain committed to the passage of marriage equality, but democracy is about compromise. I am convinced that Rhode Island will someday have full marriage equality and I intend to play a role in that effort."