Comments on: Chafee signs civil unions

By: JFE

JFE — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 18:51:24 +0000

Mark F.–Agreed.

By: Mark F.

Mark F. — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 20:15:28 +0000

OK, but it’s a common misconception that the “bad guys” wanted slaves counted as 3/5ths of a person.

By: Ben In Oakland

Ben In Oakland — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 19:25:30 +0000

JFE–what you said.

Mark– what JFE said. My 3/5 was supposed to be a sarcasm, not a reflection of history.

By: JFE

JFE — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 14:20:11 +0000

@Timothy

Thanks for the info. I thought there was more formal recognition for out-of-state marriages.

@Mark F.

What you say is true, but the “three-fifths” rule still represents compromise, a noble thing when it comes to legislation but a disgusting thing when it comes to civil rights.

By: Mark F.

Mark F. — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 04:40:51 +0000

“They are a recognition by semi-conscious people that gay people exist and do not deserve persecution or oppression, though they will be considered to be 3/5 of a heterosexual for legal purposes.”

Ben, it was the slaveholders who wanted black slaves to be counted as a full person for purposes of congressional representation only (not for any other purpose) so that the slave states would have more political influence. The non-slave states didn’t want slaves to be counted at all for congressional representation. The 3/5ths of a person provision in the U.S. Constitution was a compromise which did not impact any other laws re: slaves.

By: Timothy Kincaid

Timothy Kincaid — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 23:01:16 +0000

JFE,

The recognition is theoretical rather than actual. Although the Attorney General gave his opinion, that has no bearing on the courts. While a same-sex couple could hope that their Massachusetts marriage will be honored, without this civil unions law they have no means of being sure that they will have any recognition whatsoever.

By: JFE

JFE — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 22:31:34 +0000

If Rhode Island already recognizes marriage in other states, then isn’t this civil unions bill wholly, wholly, wholly unnecessary?

By: John

John — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 15:34:51 +0000

Chafee did note when he signed this bill that it is not over and he fully intends to continue the fight. A big part of the problem is that the Catholic Church dominates this state and its propaganda has a great deal of influence.

By: Ben in Oakland

Ben in Oakland — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 15:28:27 +0000

Idid write it. Thanks.

By: cd

cd — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 06:48:39 +0000

Rhode Island has a constitutional amendment process. Proposed amendments have to get through the legislature (50%+1 each chamber iirc) and then pass a public referendum (50%+1).

If public support for gay marriage is 54% or so, then the RI legislature can duck responsibility by letting a gay marriage legalizing constitutional amendment go to the voters.