ACLU: Civil unions a "fiasco" for RI

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - The Rhode Island chapter of the ACLU says since civil unions were made legal for gay and lesbian couples about two months ago, extremely few couples have taken advantage of the ruling. That, says the ACLU, proves the law is a fiasco -- compared to giving those couples the right to marry.

According to census figures reported by The Providence Journal, Rhode Island had just over 3,600 same-sex households in 2010. But the Rhode Island chapter of the ACLU said just 14 gay or lesbian couples have gotten civil unions since they became legal.

The ACLU released a report Monday, "Two Months of Civil Unions in Rhode Island: Already Time for a Divorce?" It details how the civil unions law has had a lackluster response, and it cites three major reasons why couples aren't getting united:

• A broad religious exemption that was intended to allow churches to refuse to perform civil unions, if they don't want to -- but which marriage equality advocates have said could let hospitals and schools affiliated with religious organizations discriminate against civil union spouses.

• Dashed hopes that full marriage equality would get voted in this year.

• They also point out other states around New England, including Massachusetts, recognize full marriage equality.

The ACLU is calling Rhode Island's civil unions law a bust -- and is calling for the General Assembly to give gay and lesbian couples the right to marry.

Advocacy group Marriage Equality Rhode island applauded the ACLU's report, saying it echoes what they've been saying -- that civil unions make homosexual couples second class citizens compared to married couples.