Chafee: State [RI] recognizes out-of-state same-sex marriages

The Call ^ | May 14, 2012 | Jim Baron

[kevcol]

PROVIDENCE – Monday was a day for gay and lesbian Rhode Islanders to whoop and cheer.
They were cheering for Gov. Lincoln Chafee, who signed an executive order requiring the state to officially recognize the same-sex unions of couples who were married elsewhere but live here.
At several points during his announcement, Chafee made it clear that he wants his action to be one step toward allowing full gay marriage rights in Rhode Island. “Are we overdue or what?” he asked the friendly audience. “The home of Roger Williams? C’mon, let’s go.” Several hands went up when the governor asked who in the crowd had been married in other states.
“It warms my heart,” said Pawtucket Sen. Donna Nesslebush, who identifies herself as the only openly gay member of the RI Senate, after Chafee signed the order and handed her one of the ceremonial pens. “It’s personal for me. I can see my lifestyle and my relationship taken as seriously and treated equally to other relationships.”

[kevcol]

ex-RINO Senator turned independent Obamao-supporter, cut from the same cloth as the Maine twin hags & Willard.

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[the invisib1e hand]

So what does that mean? They have to call you “husband and husband” when you get a bed-and-breakfast Newport?

[Ann Archy]

My GAYDAR alarm is screaming!!!!!!

[mkjessup]

That douchebag Chaffee is probably a closet fudge packer himself.

[Zeppo]

They were cheering for Gov. Lincoln Chafee, who signed an executive order requiring the state to officially recognize the same-sex unions of couples who were married elsewhere but live here.

Does the Rhode Island constitution actually permit Chafee to do such a thing?

My reading of Article IX (executive power) at http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/RiConstitution/ConstFull.html does not support the idea that the Governor has such power, but I may be overlooking something hidden within the 'penumbras'...

[txrefugee]

Was Roger Williams gay?

[Carriage Hill]

“...Donna Nesslebush, who identifies herself as the only openly gay member...”

Some things just write themselves.

[kevcol]

Was Roger Williams gay?

I highly doubt it, but leave it to the homo-caucus to co-opt the founder of their state to their cause. Roger Williams probably would have exiled them from the community (at the very least).

[Gay State Conservative]

Does he have the authority to do so under the law? I'll wager he doesn't.But it *is* Rhode Island...a state that's even filthier than Massachusetts....so it probably won't matter.