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Politics of homophobia: RI Gov denies gay partners burial rights

Rhode Island Governor Don Carcieri
Rhode Island Governor Don Carcieri
Credits: 
(commons.wikimedia.org)

The politics of homophobia hit a new low Tuesday when Rhode Island Governor Don Carcieri vetoed a bill that would have allowed gay partners burial rights.

Carcieri claims his veto of a bill that would have added domestic partners to the list of people authorized under state law to make funeral arrangements for each other was motivated by a concern to protect the sanctity of marriage. But many are questioning what appears to be a mean and vindictive act of homophobia.

In an attempt to defend his callous and morally repugnant decision, Governor Carcieri claimed:

"This bill represents a distributing trend over the past few years of the incremental erosion of the principles surrounding traditional marriage".

While there is a trend, long over due, that recognizes and attempts to correct the long standing practice of discrimination and abuse of the GLBT community, this particular bill posed no threat to the supposed sanctity of marriage. Allowing same-sex partners the right to plan a funeral for a deceased partner does not threaten traditional marriage.

The veto is disgusting; Carcieri's action is despicable. Such a blatant disregard for simple human compassion is the act of a moral monster.

 

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Portland Progressive Examiner

Gypsy scholar and freelance writer, Michael is a secular humanist with a passion for politics and protecting the civil liberties of those on the...

Comments

  • Daves not here man.... 2 years ago
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    Putting your hateful rhetoric aside, I agree with the rights of ANY 2 people to make such arrangements. UNLESS the true next of kin disagree. The next of kin deserve priority over any non married couple.

  • John Q. Public 2 years ago
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    Mr. Carcien has a record of a very successful businessman. I am glad he still has the balls to act on what he believes as opposed to caving into political correctness. He is not afraid of the unions or any other speacial interest group. I wish every state had a Carcien as governor.

  • Bill 2 years ago
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    Any human being that would come to the defense of this 'man' certainly long ago deserted their moral compass.

    But for this man to be an elected leader? Well... Rhode Island deserves exactly the kind of government it will placed in power.

  • Daves not here man... 2 years ago
    Report Abuse

    Mikey, here is a story for you.

    "The longest-running anchor on CNN's air, Dobbs was one of the nation's leading financial journalists before turning his program in a more opinionated direction. His persistent advocacy against illegal immigration angered many.

    Longtime CNN host Lou Dobbs shocked his viewers Wednesday by announcing that he would be leaving the network effective immediately."

    You must be creamin your jeans Mikey.

  • Daves not here man... 2 years ago
    Report Abuse

    Bill says: Any human being that would come to the defense of this 'man' certainly long ago deserted their moral compass.

    Your right. But here are a few who the left has defended lately.
    Van Jones
    Tom Daschle
    Bill Richardson
    Roman Polanski
    Dr Tiller
    Nidal Hasan

  • Lamar 2 years ago
    Report Abuse

    I didn't approve of my sons "partner" for years and gues what .. He wasn't allowed at the funeral. Gays shouldn'tget special treatment!

  • Jeff S. 2 years ago
    Report Abuse

    After reading the comments I imagined this e-journal came from Kentucky. Pretty horrified these posting are from 'neighbors'. Lamar, I hope for your son's and his partner's sake that the law of karma is alive and kicking in this universe. Your comment about "special treatment" demonstrates how shallow and limited by hatefulness your logic is. Surely your son deserved a better father, in the least one who possessed a human heart. Daves not here man why not stick to the point at hand. How would you feel if someone came along and stripped you of the right to make arrangements for the person who you have loved the most in this life, have been loyal to and shared every part of yourself in all of your adult years, and afforded it to her 2nd cousin? Probably not so flippant in your approach to the matter. John Q. Public, you think that denying a person the most basic dignity in death is not caving into political correctness? How more F*c#@d up can your thinking be?

  • Daves not here man.... 2 years ago
    Report Abuse

    Jeff S. says: How more F*c#@d up can your thinking be?

    We can all be thankful it is not as F*c#@d up as yours and Mikeys here.

  • Elizabeth 2 years ago
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    Some of you people are truly callous. You don't let gays establish a legal kinship with their partners, and then say it's a "special right" to for someone to be able to bury their dead partner.

    Try to have a little empathy and imagine for a second what it might be like to be shut of the burial plans of your spouse. It's not about being politcally correct, it's about having an ounce of human decency.

  • Sal A. Mander 2 years ago
    Report Abuse

    "But many are questioning what appears to be a mean and vindictive act of homophobia." How many? I count you and Elizabeth.

  • Brock Yates 2 years ago
    Report Abuse

    This is so clearly wrong. I think we should be encouraging gays to bury each other.

  • BS Piled High 2 years ago
    Report Abuse

    Just because someone demands or decides that they deserve special treatment, or even that they ARE "special" doesn't make it so.

  • Cameron 2 years ago
    Report Abuse

    They definitely SHOULD be allowed to bury each other--especially if they gave their partner a healthy dose of AIDS.

  • Cobby 2 years ago
    Report Abuse

    Michael, you're pretty lathered up over what you think your rights are. I wonder why you're not quite as incensed over the constitutional rights of others that you spend much of your time and efforts railing against. Oh, who cares about other folks rights, anyway? Most of 'em are probably 'phobes.

  • john q public 2 years ago
    Report Abuse

    How do those guys figure out who their "partners" are? Was that kid that Portland Mayor Sam Adams dragged into the restroom his "partner"?

  • Jack Inthebox 2 years ago
    Report Abuse

    john q, does this mean you're a callous pedophobe?

  • Bosco 2 years ago
    Report Abuse

    Two words the homos stole from the English language: "gay" and "partner".

  • John Q. Public 2 years ago
    Report Abuse

    John Q. is a callus pediphobe, driven by ignorance, hate, fear, and bigotry.

  • Jake H. 2 years ago
    Report Abuse

    If you want to see the lenth Americans will go to treat other humans inhumanely (on the basis of gender or anything else), just read the comments here. Pathetic. The whole nation has lost it's conscience.

  • To Lamar 2 years ago
    Report Abuse

    Lamar: You didn't let your son's partner even attend his funeral? Congrats on being the parental failure of the decade. People like you pretend to have 'morals,' then pull insanely heartless BS like that for no other reason than some sick ego boost. Glad you got your last revenge on your deaf son and his family ...

  • No Rights 2 years ago
    Report Abuse

    Gays don't have any rights--in the Constitution or elsewhere.

  • Fry Fish 2 years ago
    Report Abuse

    Jake H,---No, the homosexuals have lost THEIR consciences. Otherwise, they would be like most people who know that s--t stinks.

  • Outraged 2 years ago
    Report Abuse

    Yes, this IS outrageous! I'm definitely in favor of gays burying each other as often as they can. Anyone inhibiting or standing in the way of their burying their gay boy buddies just isn't into the spirit of the whole thing. In fact, everyone should be willing, ready, and able to assist them in burying themselves any time they are asked for assistance, in my opinion. But be very careful of mistakes. Just be sure that they're dead first.

  • Go Ahead Bury Him 2 years ago
    Report Abuse

    Did you give your "partner" croak? Was it something you gave him?Why all the concern about burying him? Do you really have to get permission to bury him, and, from whom? I'd just go ahead and bury him. You can't just leave him out in the yard with the chickens.

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