From the South County Independent:

The comments of the governors of New Hampshire and Maine upon signing their laws reflect a laudatory open-minded and sensitive understanding of the role of government in people’s civil lives. (In Vermont the legislature overrode the governor’s veto.) Initially New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch and Maine Gov. John Baldacci opposed gay marriage while supporting civil unions. Yet during the legislative debates each came to the conclusion that civil unions create a separate system that is not equal to civil marriage and does not provide equal protection under the law. Governor Lynch said, “We are standing up for the liberties of same-sex couples by making clear that they receive the same rights, responsibilities - and respect- under New Hampshire law.” Governor Baldacci said the law reaffirms the separation of church and state and “guarantees that Maine citizens will be treated equally under Maine’s civil marriage laws, and that is the responsibility of government.”

It is long past time for all branches of Rhode Island state government to show the same courage and honest civic responsibility with respect to same-sex marriage and finally approve a gay marriage bill of our own.