Marriage Equality Rhode Island Rejects Marriage Equality (this title links to original article)

Rhode Island Republican Governor Don Carcieri, who has opposed gay marriage & civil unions, now says he may back domestic partnerships for same-sex couples similar to one passed by voters a month ago in Washington state. Washington state's domestic partnership law was dubbed "the everything but marriage" law because their domestic partnership law has all the marital rights and benefits the state can offer but is not labeled "marriage."

Carcieri said domestic partnerships are different from civil unions because a partnership system benefits gay couples and other nontraditional households, for example, two widows living together to save money.

"I'm prepared to look at something that would be more global and not specifically exclusive to same-gender" relationships, Carcieri said.

Leaders of Marriage Equality Rhode Island have found Carcieri’s efforts and ideas to be inadequate. The group now exclusively lobbies for the rights for same-sex couples to marry.

By rejecting the governor's offer Marriage Equality Rhode Island is proving that they are not interested in achieving more rights for LGBT citizens (or trying to give greater choice to all citizens) but are primarily interested in having Big Brother approve of their relationships.

I thought our community was about expanding choice, not limiting it. WOW, Rhode Island could really open up the entire issue of marital benefits but Marriage Equality Rhode Island refuses because it does not fit their narrow definition of marriage equality.