I wouldn't give you even this much for
your new legislation.
Here's a misnomer for ya: Rhode Island. It's not an island. It's also not a Rhode, but I won't split hairs.
Something else that's misleading is the idea that civil unions achieve some sort of parity to marriage. They don't. Neither legally nor metaphorically are these things the same. Plus, there's no getting around the fact that popping the question, "Will you unionize with me?" lacks a lot in eloquence and sense. Unless you're Norma Rae Webster.
This past week the governing body of Rhode Island passed legislation to permit same-sex civil unions, piggybacking onto the historic New York state passage of same-sex marriage. There are so many reasons why this is just a ridiculously poor effort that is also badly timed. Even Rhode Island's governor, Lincoln Chafee, knew he was on the wrong side of the civil rights highway. He bashed the bill even as he signed it into law.
Here's my feeling: From now to eternity there's a line in the sand, on one side is marriage, on the other institutionalized bigotry. And all the rest is just chin music by bloviating, prevaricating politicians and their lackeys.
The state legislators of the little (in all senses) Rhode Island can take their piece of unions sop and shove it up their asses.
See what I mean about misnomers. We're really not that civil.
