A proposal to allow gay couples to enter into civil unions in Rhode Island passed its first legislative hurdle yesterday, The House Judiciary Committee endorsed the legislation 9-3, which means the bill now goes before the full house.
Civil unions would grant the same state rights given to married couples in Rhode Island, or at least that was the plan. The proposal was introduced after legislative leaders announced that same-sex marriage legislation lacked the votes needed to pass. They predict broad support for civil unions in the General Assembly.
But community leaders on both sides of the debate say the civil union measure falls short. Supporters of traditional marriage said it's a steppingstone to full marriage rights for gay couples. "The civil unions bill is bad. The bill itself has no protections for religious liberties whatsoever in it. The bill itself has no definition of defence of marriage. Supporters are saying this is a compromise between same-sex marriage and those of us who believe marriage is one man and one woman. In fact, what it is, is a Trojan horse. It's an invitation for the courts of Rhode Island to redefine marriage without a vote of the people," said Christopher Plante, of the Rhode Island chapter of the National Organization of Marriage.
Supporters of same-sex marriage said civil unions create a two-class system.
"I think it's really important that we recognize that separate will never be equal ... Setting up a separate institution does not help gay and lesbian couples. We will not stop fighting for marriage equality until we win it," said Kate Brock of Ocean State Action. "This does not end the fight."
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