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]

10:50 AM on 11/17/2009

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]

04:19 AM on 11/14/2009

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]

01:53 PM on 11/12/2009

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

[jeremyfive]

01:39 PM on 11/12/2009

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]

07:58 AM on 11/13/2009

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

[bluntobject]

12:51 PM on 11/12/2009

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

[ljkcan]

12:34 PM on 11/12/2009

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]

09:52 AM on 11/17/2009

You must live in a civilized country.

[shel3364]

12:31 PM on 11/12/2009

Wow. This guy is wrong on so many levels.

[John Horner]

10:37 AM on 11/12/2009

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]

11:54 AM on 11/12/2009

its what je$u$ would have done

[dans5843]

10:34 AM on 11/12/2009

It's shocking how stupid some of these leaders are

[BVLian]

10:03 AM on 11/12/2009

What a complete a-hole!

[wolf58]

09:28 AM on 11/12/2009

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]

07:29 AM on 11/12/2009

Throw the bum out.

[AAKAlan]

02:56 AM on 11/12/2009

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

[Macready]

06:45 AM on 11/12/2009

well said AAKAlan . . sounds like a real jerk

[mainemomma]

07:39 AM on 11/12/2009

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]

02:51 AM on 11/12/2009

Come on; this is ridiculous!

[mercury613]

02:45 AM on 11/12/2009

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]

02:57 AM on 11/12/2009

Ditto. Fanned.

[enhancedvibes]

12:49 PM on 11/12/2009

Co-sign!