RI: Gov Carcieri thinking positively about domestic partnerships

Interesting that he cites Washington State...

...since it's always been intended to be full marriage within a decade of the first piece of legislation, and everyone's aware of that fact.

This is one odd duck.

---

by: Baconcat @ Fri Nov 13, 2009 at 00:30:17 AM CST

I think he realizes that

The position he took in vetoing that bill is an extremely unpopular one (particularly in Rhode Island) and now he is trying to save face.  

---

by: tbaxfer @ Fri Nov 13, 2009 at 00:44:40 AM CST

I'm wondering if...

he may imitate  Bujo Banton's very short-lived act of contrition turned act of hate speech.

We'll see what happens next, when he thinks no one is looking...or when he gets heat from his homophobic comrades...

Hate stops a beating heart.

---

by: KarenS @ Fri Nov 13, 2009 at 00:48:58 AM CST

See?

He doesn't "REALLY" hate teh gayz. He just doesn't think we should be "allowed" to "destroy" marriage.

Where's the toilet, I need to go stick my head in it.

I am the lizard queen!

---

by: RainbowPhoenix @ Fri Nov 13, 2009 at 01:00:19 AM CST

I think he is experiencing the last great attempt to stave off inevitability

While I am happy for all we have accomplished in Washington State it is easy to see that with the concession of this govenator and the Mormon churches new attempt at popularity, that the right while attempting to continue its assualt on same sex marriage is hoping to stave of the inevitable by becoming stronger advocates for demostic partnersships or any and all things weaker or more watered down.
They have been bruised and battered by our advocacy and success. Our vitories may not have been to the level of what we desire as success in the past few years, but what has certainly been proven by the good voters of Washington State is that regardless of opinion, to do nothing about gay rights or supporting the gay community is no longer a tolerable position to hold in any circumstance.

Always thinking about it...

---

by: kudo451 @ Fri Nov 13, 2009 at 02:21:29 AM CST

various stuff

Thanks for the diary, Lurleen. A few things:

I almost wonder if Carcieri's meeting with the Queer Action of Rhode Island might have been his first ever time he knowingly conversed with a gay person.  Does anyone know?

Nope, he has had to deal with other gay people in government ever since he's been in office. The mayor of Providence, David Cicilline, is openly gay, as is the Majority Leader of the RI House of Representatives, Gordon Fox. Carcieri even has or at least has had some gay cronies in his own administration (I won't mention any names, but check the database for donors against Prop 8 in California from RI against a list of people who have been in his administration.) There's also a prominent mayor from his party who is barely closeted. Also, when Carcinogen first ran for office and announced his anti-LGBT views in a forum that the local paper reported about, a man whom he had known for many years wrote him a detailed letter about all of the hoops that he and his long-term partner had to jump through to protect themselves, and the ways in which they still were not able to. So basically, he knows. He just doesn't care.

If Carcieri is on the level, I expect prompt proof.  Other states have shown that a civil union or domestic partnership law can be a relatively simple piece of legislation.  Heck, I bet the Speaker of the House has several versions in his desk ready to go.

Oh, if only. The Speaker of the RI House, William Murphy, is against marriage and civil unions and won't allow movement on any such bills. (He's doing the Catholic Church's bidding. He's stepping down as Speaker next year, and the most likely successor is the openly gay Fox.) Carcieri knows this, so it's safe for him to say he's willing to consider DP legislation. He knows damn well that Murphy won't let it anywhere near his desk, and he'll be gone in a year. Moreover, the state is in such a financial disaster that the legislature refuses to expend any energy on LGBT issues because of the inevitable public meme that they should work on more "important" things. Carcieri is just playing kick the can with this issue and trying to save face now that he has been exposed as the bigot that he is.

I posted a link to an earlier version of this story in the earlier thread about this, but here's the story about gov candidates blasting Carcieri on this issue. Also, Providence Journal columnist Bob Kerr tears Carcieri a new one:

This is a new low, and that's saying something. This is a governor denying homosexuals dignity in death, denying them the very human right to bring love and grief together in a final tribute. It's cruel, heartless and despicable - not to mention predictable.

I have friends who were in the meeting with the governor Thursday, and I've talked at length with one of them. I don't want to speak for them because they should tell their own stories, and hopefully they will. At a minimum, they gave him a hell of a lot to think about, and the negative publicity about this veto has definitely given him pause.

---

by: DubNotDubya @ Fri Nov 13, 2009 at 02:34:10 AM CST

Thank you for this comment!

As you can tell, I'm not very well informed about the Rhode Island scene.  I really appreciate your local expertise.

Click HERE and sign up: Campaign For Military Partners.

Lurleen on Twitter.

---

by: Lurleen @ Fri Nov 13, 2009 at 10:02:55 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Lying through his teeth!

Here's some more reaction from folks hoping to replace him and other pols:

General Treasurer Frank Caprio's campaign issued this statement about Carcieri's veto:

"The treasurer would have signed the legislation sponsored by Representative David Segal and Senator Rhoda Perry."

Caprio's views on the over-arching same-sex marriage issue have evolved since early last winter when he said: "Even though my personal beliefs are what I profess at church on Sunday with my Catholic background ... I wouldn't stand in front of it becoming law or going on the ballot," he said.

Clarifying his position during an interview earlier this week, he said he "would be in favor'' of legalizing same-sex marriage in Rhode Island by "any route,'' including legislative or court action.

Caprio said he would "be happy to go into more depth'' about why he feels this way "as the campaign progresses,'' but he believes he has a "16-year legislative track record which matches up with supporting issues in this area [and] representing one of the most progressive districts in Providence.''

Former senator Lincoln Chafee, who is running for governor as an independent, joined the Democrats Thursday in criticizing Carcieri's veto.

"Governor Carcieri says in a message attached to his veto of the Segal/ Perry bill that 'this bill represents a disturbing trend,'' Chafee said in a statement. "The real 'disturbing trend' showcased here is the governor's preference in inciting emotional social issues rather than addressing the top priority of Rhode Islanders--reviving our economy."

"Rhode Island should be a leader in granting people increased rights and liberties. Throughout our state's history this has been ingrained in our way of thinking, dating back to our first state charter in 1663. As governor, I will fight to ensure all gay and lesbian Rhode Islanders have the same liberties and freedoms as every other American, including funeral rights."

While it remains unclear whether house and Senate leaders will seek to override the governor's veto, House Majority Leader Gordon Fox issued this statement in response to an inquiry:

"Personally, I favor an override of this legislation. I look forward to meeting with Speaker Murphy and the Senate leadership in the near future to review all of the vetoes and discuss our next course of action."

An openly gay man, Fox is the chosen successor of House Speaker William J. Murphy, who has announced his intent to exit after next year.

Click HERE and sign up: Campaign For Military Partners

Click here for DADT photobook

---

by: Louise @ Fri Nov 13, 2009 at 05:18:40 AM CST