Rhode Island Civil Union Implementation and Marriage Recognition
GLAD has been advising the Chafee administration as it works to implement Rhode Island’s civil unions law. Soon after the law’s passage, GLAD began meeting with administration officials to address issues likely to arise for couples entering civil unions, including the ability of both parties to be listed as parents on the birth certificate for a child born into the civil union and issues abouttax filings. Most recently, GLAD submitted public comments on regulations issued by the Department of Business Regulation on equal insurance benefits for couples in civil unions. GLAD will continue to lend our expertise to ensure that the state fully carries out the intentions of the civil union law.
GLAD is also working to ensure that Rhode Island couples who have married in other jurisdictions have those marriages respected. We successfully advocated on behalf of Deborah Tevyaw Baker, the surviving spouse of Patricia Baker, to ensure that the State of Rhode Island appropriately recognized their marriage. Because of GLAD’s advocacy, Deborah was able to obtain an amended death certificate for Pat that recognized their marriage and listed Deborah as her surviving spouse, and was able to have the title to their cars transferred to her name, just as any other surviving spouse would. GLAD will continue to work with government officials and the Chafee administration to ensure equal respect for out-of-state marriages.