Comments on: Rhode Island Senate Committee vote tomorrow

By: Theo

Theo — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 18:03:39 +0000

I don’t agree that the exemption is no big deal. The RI exemption, unlike those in every other state, is not limited to religious groups asked to become involved in weddings or wedding celebrations. The RI exemption covers religious groups as they may interact with gay married couples over the course of their lives. That means adoption, hospitals, shelters, etc.

Now if this were a full marriage bill and if it were Idaho and the exemption was the only way to get it done, I’d be OK with it. But for this to be in a bill in RI, where the Dems control both houses by overwhelming majorities, where there is no referendum process, where they are only considering civil unions, it is appalling to have that in the bill.

This was a complete sell out by the openly gay House Speaker and, if press stories are true, by HRC which staged a take over of the local RI group and agreed to this civil unions scheme.

Also, please don’t become one of these people who say “folk” all the time. It isn’t 1860.

By: Mark F.

Mark F. — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 17:16:09 +0000

Well, if a “civil union” is a marriage in all but name, I don’t get the strong objections. If the votes aren’t there for marriage, I think you should take this for the time being.

By: Reed Boyer

Reed Boyer — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 05:40:43 +0000

Take the bill as is – then press discrimination lawsuits as instances happen (and they will) while simultaneously working legislators to “refine” the bill to be more in keeping with the realities in areas where CHW hospitals are the only ones, etc.

By: TonyJazz

TonyJazz — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 23:37:50 +0000

It is obvious that gay representatives should vote and speak against civil unions. The whole concept is an embarrassment to the state of Rhode Island.

Yay, New York!!!!!

By: TampaZeke

TampaZeke — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 23:36:20 +0000

*surrounded*

By: TampaZeke

TampaZeke — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 23:35:49 +0000

I don’t think this compromise is a good thing.

Rhode Island must be so proud to be surounded by 21st Century states.

By: Julian Morrison

Julian Morrison — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 22:51:45 +0000

These things are designed to diffuse and destroy momentum. Either you smile for a shit sandwich, or you go home hungry.

The solution is to realize that a shit sandwich is no kind of food, and flatly turn them down. Yes, it is better to go hungry, because it keeps you angry.

By: David

David — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 22:27:04 +0000

“First Church of I’m Better Than You”

hahaha

By: Bruno

Bruno — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 21:46:23 +0000

@Mark F: I’d be against it coming up for a vote instead of marriage equality. I’m not a Rhode Island legislator, I don’t have a vote, so I don’t need to deal with that hypothetical.

By: Mark F.

Mark F. — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 21:28:33 +0000

So Bruno, you would vote against this?