Rhode Island Civil Union law comes under fire

September 12, 2011

Rhode Island: The Rhode Island chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union has attacked the recently passed Civil Union law. The law allowed Gay and Lesbian couples to obtain a civil union that would be recognized under state law. Before the law was passed organizations on both sides of the issues urged Governor Lincoln Chafee to veto the bill based on a controversial addition called the Corvese amendment. The Corvese amendment could subject those who obtain a civil union to rules regarding religiously affiliated organizations. The amendment could also be used to deny the rights of couples to make medical decisions for their partner and be denied health insurance and other important benefits. A report written by the ACLU has called for the amendment to be repealed and a Rhode Island Supreme Court decision that same sex couples who were married in other states are unable to be divorced be reversed. According to the report some residents are in an "absurd situation where people live in a state that refuses to recognize their marriages, yet requires them to stay married even if they wish to divorce."