It was called “a historic day” by Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed when the Rhode Island passed a bill that legalizes civil unions. This progress puts RI on a short but growing list of states that provide marriage-like rights to same-sex couples. The bill is favored by most lawmakers, many of whom describe it as a compromise or at least \u201ca step in the right direction.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis nation was founded on the idea that all people are created equal, a concept expressed right from our Declaration of Independence and improved upon by the course of history,\u201d Sen. Hanna M. Gallo, D-Cranston, said before the vote. \u201cFor me, this vote is about just that \u2014 treating people equally.\u201d<\/p>\n
The bill defines civil unions as \u201ca legal union between two individuals of the same sex,\u201d assigning the same state \u201crights, benefits, protections, and responsibilities\u201d that come with marriage. It also states that religious organizations and their employees \u201cshall not be required to\u201d provide services for civil-union ceremonies or \u201ctreat as valid any civil union.\u201d<\/p>\n
via The Providence Journal<\/p>\n