R.I. Gov. Called "Cruel" to Gays

Rhode Island gubernatorial hopeful blasts governor's veto of a bill allowing domestic partners to make funeral arrangements for one another.

By Trudy Ring

PATRICK LYNCH X390 (GETTY) | ADVOCATE.COM

Rhode Island attorney general and Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Patrick Lynch (pictured) has lambasted Republican governor Don Carcieri as “cruel and heartless” for vetoing a bill that would allow members of same-sex couples to make funeral arrangements for their partners.

“By vetoing this bill, he has demonstrated that he believes gay and lesbian Rhode Islanders are second-class citizens,” Lynch said in a press release circulated Thursday, reported Providence television station ABC 6 on its website. Lynch pledged to sign such legislation if it comes to him as governor.

In his veto message Tuesday, Carcieri called the legislation part of the “incremental erosion of the principles surrounding traditional marriage.” It would have added domestic partners to the list of people authorized to make funeral arrangements for a person who had left no prearranged contract. It was designed to apply to either same-sex or opposite-sex partners who met certain criteria for a committed, exclusive relationship, its sponsors said.

Carcieri said if legislators want to grant rights to domestic partners, they should put the question to the voters.

Carcieri will not be eligible to run for reelection in 2010 because of term limits. Lynch and state general treasurer Frank Caprio are both seeking the Democratic nomination, while businessman Rory Smith is the only declared Republican candidate so far. Former U.S. senator Lincoln Chafee is running as an independent.

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Reader Comments

Back to top Post a Comment
Name: LUDWIG
Date posted: 11/13/2009 6:03:31 PM
Hometown: Greenville, S.C.

Comment:
We have the power to remove him from office and also keep him for holding other offices of power such as Senator or Reprresentative. TAKE ACTION AGAINST THIS bigoted IGNORAMUS.
Back to top Post a Comment
Name: Michael
Date posted: 11/13/2009 1:05:36 AM
Hometown: Manchester

Comment:
Fortunately, Carcieri won't need funeral arrangements because he will burn in hell for his hatefulness.
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Name: Nathan
Date posted: 11/12/2009 11:04:10 PM
Hometown: Franklin

Comment:
Don Carcieri is nothing but a heartless man in my eyes right now as I lost the one I loved the most last month so I know all to well not being able to fulfill your obligations of your heart when they pass on is very painful. What comes to mind is basically people like him see us as the equivalent of freed slaves like from the past, sure freed slaves were no longer slaves but they had no rights and no protections.
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Name: Jason
Date posted: 11/12/2009 9:56:15 PM
Hometown: Newport, RI

Comment:
Governor Patrick Lynch. Has a nice ring to it.
Back to top Post a Comment
Name: Paul
Date posted: 11/12/2009 8:45:52 PM
Hometown: Minneapolis

Comment:
Put the question to the voters? Why have a legislature, court system and governor if you just want mob rule? Republicans have become a sad, stale joke.
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Name: Ginelle
Date posted: 11/12/2009 8:44:59 PM
Hometown: British Columbia, Canada

Comment:
Governor Carcieri apparently is out to burn a few bridges before he is out of there. Pretty darn mean spirited though to take it out on people who are coming to the end of their lives and need that special person to speak up for them and their last requests. So much for his political career!
Back to top Post a Comment
Name: Mark
Date posted: 11/12/2009 7:49:02 PM
Hometown: Tesuque

Comment:
Planning someone's funeral or memorial service erodes traditional marriage? Exactly how governor? Blatant homophobe

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