EXCLUSIVE: A Big Compromise on Gay Marriage?
Thursday, February 10, 2011
As the gay marriage debate heats up at the Statehouse, one state rep is weighing a compromise measure that she says just might bring both sides together.
Opponents are crying foul over what they see as an attempt to redefine marriage while supporters say earning the right to call their relationships "marriages" is the only way to ensure that gay and straight couples are on equal footing.
“There seems to be an issue with a word and I want to make sure there is equality,” said state Rep. Karen MacBeth, a self-described conservative Democrat from Cumberland. “If we’re hung up on a word, let’s use a different word.”
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTIf the current bill to legalize gay marriage successfully makes it to the House floor, MacBeth is considering offering an amendment that would substitute the phrase “civil unions” for “marriage.” As a result, the state would stop offering marriage licenses and instead offer civil unions to both straight and gay couples.
One veteran state rep whom she declined to name has told MacBeth that it would be too much of an undertaking to strip the word “marriage” from all state laws. MacBeth, however, points to the recent debate over taking out the phrase “Providence Plantations” from the state name. “If we can take a vote on changing the name of the state, we can certainly vote on changing the word ‘marriage,’” she said.
‘The word marriage is a lightening rod’
Several other state reps interviewed by GoLocalProv yesterday said they thought a civil unions bill had a much better chance of passing the House than gay marriage. “I think where the word 'marriage' is a lightening rod … civil unions probably would have an easier time,” said Rep. Joy Hearn, D-Barrington. “I think people would be willing to vote for something excluding the word 'marriage,'” agreed Rep. Lisa Baldelli-Hunt, D-Woonsocket.
MacBeth says she thinks conservative Democrats would rally around a civil unions proposal. But Baldelli-Hunt, for one, said she wouldn’t have a position on it until she read the text of the civil unions amendment. She said she would prefer to put the issue on the ballot. “I still feel as though we’re delving into the consciences of constituents and we have no position meddling there,” she said.
Hearn, a socially liberal Democrat, said civil unions are the ideal to her. “In a perfect world, I would have the word ‘marriage’ stripped out of all legal documents and it would be civil unions,” Hearn said. For now, she says she’s backing the gay marriage bill, but says she could see civil unions as a viable compromise if supporters of gay marriage are OK with it.
Several Republicans told GoLocalProv they could get behind a civil unions measure too. “I’d support anything but gay marriage,” said Rep. Joe Trillo, R-Warwick. “I have a problem giving same-sex couples the word 'marriage.'” Rep. Brian Newberry, R-North Smithfield, also said he supports civil unions.
Another potential advantage: While House Speaker Gordon Fox supports gay marriage, Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed does not. But she does support civil unions. (A spokesman for Fox last night said the Speaker does not oppose civil unions but is focused for now on getting gay marriage passed.)
Activists remain divided
The civil unions compromise would have major hurdles to clear. For one thing, the two most prominently pro and anti-gay marriage groups last night told GoLocalProv they wouldn’t accept it. “Civil Unions are a simply a legal stepping stone to forcing judicial decree for same-sex marriage,” said Chris Plante, executive director for the state chapter of the National Organization for Marriage.
An official with Marriage Equality Rhode Island said the group also opposes it. “Marriage is more than simply a collection of legal rights; it tells the community that two people love each other and are a family,” said Kim Stowell, a spokeswoman. “Since everyone understands the legal relationship called marriage, being married is significant to many people, and something that protects families in daily life as well as during times of crisis. No other word or legal status can provide that protection.”
She noted that civil unions would only give the same state rights to gay couples. “They preclude the possibility of gaining federal marriage protections, as well as the dignity, clarity, and power of the word marriage,” Stowell added.
Former state Rep and Congressional candidate David Segal said he thinks most progressives in the Statehouse won’t accept anything less than marriage. “If it for some reason doesn’t pass this year, I don’t think civil unions are an option,” Segal said. “They might be considered a modern era version of ‘separate-but-equal’—but, as in other episodes of discrimination, separation doesn't represent true equality.”
At least one activist who has a foot in both camps, however, remains optimistic that a compromise can win the day. Erich Sturn, who is openly gay, ran as a Republican candidate against Fox in the last election. He says most conservatives he has spoken to are willing to meet gay activists halfway and vote for civil unions. He says liberals should be willing to compromise a little too. “Is it equality they are fighting for or a word they are duking it out over?” Sturn said. “Personally I’m in it for the equality.”
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