Stephanie Chafee to perform civil union

NARRAGANSETT, R.I. (WPRI) - Lynn McKinney and Ron Margolin have considered themselves married for 32 years. But now they're going to make it official with help from their friend Stephanie Chafee.

"Part of it was to say thank you to the governor for his long support to the gay and lesbian community,” McKinney told Eyewitness News.

The Narragansett couple had originally asked the governor to oversee their civil union ceremony. But he will be out of the country on November 5th, the date they've picked for the ceremony.

"Stephanie said she’d do it and we were delighted," Margolin said. "She’s been so active in the HIV/AIDS work from the very beginning…she’s been right there all of the time."

Mrs. Chafee has been given approval by the General Assembly to perform the ceremony. It's the first time the legislature has approved a civil union ceremony request.

Instead of gifts, Lynn and Ron are asking guests to please make donations to a scholarship fund for GLBT youth who want to attend either URI or Brown University.