Gay Funeral Rights Bill Vetoed By Rhode Island Governor

AP - Gov. Don Carcieri vetoed legislation Tuesday that would give same-sex couples in Rhode Island the same right to plan the funerals of their late partners as married couples.

The socially conservative Republican said the proposed protection represents a "disturbing trend" of the incremental erosion of heterosexual marriage. Rhode Island does not recognize same-sex marriage.

"If the General Assembly believes it would like to address the issue of domestic partnership, it should place the issue on the ballot and let the people of Rhode Island decide," Carcieri said in a letter to lawmakers.

Democrats hold a veto-proof majority in the Legislature and frequently override Carcieri's objections.

Sen. Rhoda Perry and Rep. David Segal, the bill sponsors, said they would seek to override the veto. They proposed the legislation after one of their constituents was unable to retrieve the body of his late partner from the state medical examiner for weeks because they weren't married or next-of-kin.

Gay rights supporters were indignant at the veto.

"It is absolutely unconscionable that Gov. Carcieri would step in the middle of people being able to take care of their loved ones at such a sorrowful time," said Kathy Kushnir, executive director of Marriage Equality Rhode Island, which advocates for gay marriage. "Why would he make it more difficult? I just don't get it."

The proposed funeral planning rights would apply to same-sex couples who have had a relationship for at least one year and pass other tests, such as owning property together. Carcieri said some of the guidelines were vague.

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Comments

[jeungsahn]

First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak out for me.
- Pastor Martin Niemoller

As a gay man (married and living in MA) I want to personally thank all of the heterosexuals here (and elsewhere) speaking out about this and all the other unconscionable and despicable outrages perpetrated against gay women and men, and their families.

[Artemis34]

Their marriages must be pretty d@mn weak if they can't let us plan funerals!

Probably the wind is also a threat to their marriages. Time to forget about their marriages!

[Rand]

Obviously, if you allow Gay couple to plan funeralos it'll spoil funerals for everyone else!

[jeremyfive]

What a filthy mongrel Don Carcieri is.

This is inhuman, and I can only wish Don Carcieri equal suffering.

Is this hatred anywhere in the teachings of Jesus Christ? Of course not.

[LostRiverLedger]

He seems to forget that Jesus refused to heal those with preexisting conditions too........NOT~

[bluntobject]

Another Catholic Bigot who has rising way beyond his station in life.

[ljkcan]

Planning a funeral for a loved one is numbing, to take away that time when you can give input into a service, and being able to grieve with those that are close to you is despicable.

What is next no gay's allowed at the funeral.

Again I am glad I live in a country where "gay" is not the issue it is in the states.

[WoodyCPM]

You must live in a civilized country.

[shel3364]

Wow. This guy is wrong on so many levels.

[John Horner]

Another mean, angry old white guy putting his religion ahead of the people he governs. There seems to be an endless supply of his type.

[nuclearmonkeys]

its what je$u$ would have done

[dans5843]

It's shocking how stupid some of these leaders are

[BVLian]

What a complete a-hole!

[wolf58]

I live in RI and I can tell you this guy has no good from day one, the good thing is he will be gone soon because of the term limits we have.

[bluemike]

Throw the bum out.

[AAKAlan]

Another homophobic, hearless, vicious Republican politician.
Big surprise, huh?

[Macready]

well said AAKAlan . . sounds like a real jerk

[mainemomma]

Lots of catholic's in RI... he probably got a call from a bishop.... who is mangry that he is still in the closet.

[AlaskanToo]

Come on; this is ridiculous!

[mercury613]

As terrible as this is for gay and lesbian people in RI, there is one positive thing that comes out of this: it exposes same-sex marriage opponents as the hyp0crites and li@rs they are.

This is not -- nor has it ever been -- about the word "marriage" or protecting its sanctity. This is about the Christian Taliban dehumanizing gay and lesbian people and forcing their religious view on the rest of us. Period.

[AAKAlan]

Ditto. Fanned.

[enhancedvibes]

Co-sign!

[Curtis inSF]

You are so right. The whole right wing anti-gay marriage movement is about allowing/m­aintaining cover for religious groups to continue their hate of gays in their practices, programs, theology, and sermons, and have the pretense that gays are acting "outside the law" so the right wingers are just good people defending the law and morality. I've actually seen these people in public hearings say "I don't have anything against gays but what they do is illegal, we can't reward criminal behavior." It's all a game to pretend to be warm and fuzzy while actually engaging in an all out war of hate and bigotry. Oh and you should see how upset they get when you call them out on being bigots. They've actually convinced themselves that opposing someone's equality is not a bigoted act. They are delusional.