Equality in Rhode Island....sort of?

The Rhode Island Senate has passed a civil unions bill and Governor Lincoln Chafee is expected to sign it.  However, a group of marriage advocates, including Marriage Equality Rhode Island, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, Freedom to Marry and the American Civil Liberties Union, have sent a letter to the governor asking him to veto the bill and demand that the legislature pass full marriage equality.  According to The Providence Journal,

In a two-page letter sent to the governor, the groups said the bill — scheduled for a Senate Judiciary Committee vote on Wednesday afternoon — “represents a huge step backward from Rhode Island’s longstanding nondiscrimination commitments” and provides “individuals and institutions a free-floating license to discriminate against a whole class of people, in defiance of general law.”


“This amendment could allow individuals, who are legally required to recognize everyone else’s legal commitments, to opt out of doing so only for gay and lesbian people,” the groups wrote. “In practical terms, this law could allow religiously affiliated hospitals to deny a civil union’s spouse’s right to be by his spouse’s side and make medical decisions for him.”

The National Organization for Marriage, naturally, says the religious protections don't go far enough.  There has been no response from the Governor's office.   

Civil Unions Begin in Illinois

Illinois citizens can obtain civil union licenses beginning at 7:30 AM today.   The lines in front of the Cook County Clerk's office in Chicago began forming at midnight and Lakeesha Harris and Janean Watkins (pictured above) were the first in line.  Congrats ladies!  Cook County has a "special gift package" for you!  DuPage County has no special gifts, but expects large numbers of people on the first day. 

As yet, there is no word on Richland County, but my sources report that gay white squirrel couples began to form orderly lines in front of the courthouse in the early morning hours.      

Equality in Delaware!

A civil unions bill has passed the Delaware House today by a vote of 26-15.  It has already passed the Senate and Governor Markell is expected to sign it.  Congratulations Delawareans! 

Equality in Delaware?

It might be coming.  Civil Union legislation has been introduced in the Delaware Senate.  The bill was introduced by Sen. Dave Sokola, D-Newark, and currently has 27 co-sponsors in the General Assembly.

Inequality in Hawaii

GOP Governor Linda Lingle of Hawaii has vetoed a civil unions bill passed by the state legislature.  The twice-divorced Lingle waited until the last day to protect the sanctity of marriage.  She chose to pander to extremist elements in her party instead of respect the civil rights of Hawaiian citizens.  In 1993, the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled that dening the right to marriage to Hawaiians violated equal protection.  Gov. Lingle actually invited the judge who wrote that decision,  retired Justice Steven Levinson, to witness her defiance of the rule of law.  Here she is taking the cowardly bullshit position that civil rights should be decided by the voters: 


Bigotry Wins: Hawaii Gov. Lingle Vetoes Civil Unions from Joe Jervis on Vimeo.


The ACLU plans to sue based on the 1993 state Supreme Court decision.

Equality in Hawaii

In a surprise move, the Hawaii House passed a civil unions bill in the final hours of their session.  It has already passed the Senate and now moves to Republican Governor Linda Lingle for signature.  She has not said whether she will sign it.  The bill would give unmarried gay and heterosexual couples the same rights as married couples under state law. 

Earlier in the session, the House failed to act on the bill in the face of a large opposition rally at which people were bussed in from churches after Sunday services. 

When the bill passed the Senate, Lt. Governor James Ioana promised that, if passed into law, civil unions would be defeated in a ballot measure in November.