RI Senate OKs civil unions bill

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - Rhode Island moved one step closer to allowing same-sex civil unions on Wednesday after the Senate passed a bill to legalize them.

The Senate Judiciary committee voted 7-4 to approve the measure. The full Senate passed the measure a short time later by a final vote of 21 in favor and 16 opposed.

Gov. Lincoln Chafee said he will sign the bill when it reaches his desk. Groups on both sides of the issue have urged him to veto it over language aimed at protecting religious institutions from discrimination charges.

House Speaker Gordon Fox threw his support behind the civil unions legislation, which passed his chamber in May, after deciding gay marriage itself couldn't pass this year.

Rhode Island and Maine are the only two New England states where gay marriage is illegal. New York approved it last week.