Perhaps you’re a reader of Queer Fresno and already know about dickwad Governor Don Carcieri vetoing a law in Rhode Island allowing funeral decision-making rights to domestic partners. Essentially the Governor said he didn’t want gay couples to be allowed to make the arrangements for their deceased partner’s burial and Stephen Colbert properly lambasted him for it.
Well today the Rhode Island legislature gave Mr. Carcieri what for by overwhelmingly overriding his veto. From the article:
The House — and then the Senate — voted to override Republican Carcieri’s veto of a bill giving domestic partners the right to claim the bodies of — and make funeral arrangements for — their loved ones.
The House vote was 67 to 3 and the Senate vote was 29 to 3.
The only one of dueling defense-of-marriage, same-sex marriage and gay-rights bills introduced in Rhode Island last year that cleared the General Assembly, the legislation was an outgrowth of the personal tale that Mark S. Goldberg told lawmakers about his months-long battle last fall to persuade state authorities to release to him for cremation the body of his partner of 17 years, Ron Hanby.
There’s no reason this shouldn’t have become law in the first place. Thank you Rhode Island for doing what’s right.
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