Chafee Signs Civil Union Bill With Reservations
Despite exemption that "eviscerates" "important rights," governor OKs law.
Governor Lincoln Chafee signed H 6103, "An Act Related to Domestic Relations – Civil Unions” into law Saturday morning, though he says it fails to provide equal rights to all citizens. Chafee wrote in his signing statement that although the law permits officials to certify people in civil unions, it also "provides a religious exemption of unparalleled and alarming scope." The exemption in question is under § 15-3.1-5(a)(3) of the law: "No religious organization or its employees may be required “to treat as valid any civil union.” That exemption, "gives these institutions and their employees the choice of refusing to recognize civil unions. As a result, a party to a civil union could be denied the right to make medical decisions for his or…
