Yesterday Rhode Island’s governor Dan Carcieri vetoed a bill which would have allowed unmarried couples the same right to plan the funerals of their late partners as married couples.  He claims this legislation represents an erosion of traditional marriage.

According to its sponsors, Sen. Rhoda Perry and state Rep. David Segal, the legislation, which would also allow the release of the deceased’s body to their domestic partner, is designed to provide rights to domestic partners regardless of whether they are of the same or opposite sexes.

The bill defined a domestic partner as someone who was in an “exclusive, intimate and committed relationship” with the deceased. The coupl had to have had lived together for at least a year prior to the death and both parties must be at least 18, not married to anyone else and  not related by blood. They must also be financially “interdependent”  as evidenced, for example, by a joint mortgage, shared credit card or domestic partnership contract.

But Gov. Carcieri said

the bill would allow the decisions of a “partner” of a year to take precedence over “traditional family members,” and he believes a “one year time period is not a sufficient duration to establish a serious bond between two individuals…[relative to] sensitive personal traditions and issues regarding funeral arrangements, burial rights and disposal of human remains.”

Carcieri said he was also uncertain “how it would be ascertained in many circumstances whether [a couple] had been in a relationship for year” since there is “no official or recognized form” of domestic partnership agreement in Rhode Island. He called this proviso “vague and ill-defined.”

Carcieri says

If the General Assembly believes it would like to address the issue of domestic partnerships, it should place the issue on the ballot and let the people of the state of Rhode Island decide.

It’s appalling that a Republican would step into deny personal and private rights to people! Aren’t Republicans always screaming about individual rights and how the government shouldn’t be interferring in people’s lives? Now here we have one interferring in death.

This makes it very clear how important it is to have one’s memorial/ funeral planned in writing, signed and notarized. But is that any guarantee that one’s wishes will be carried out? Not unless it’s pre-paid.

Shame on Governor Carieci. And straight people of Rhode Island, this affects you, so please let your governor know how you feel!