Rho A Go For DP'd Mo's

The Rhode Island legislature has overridden Gov. Don Carcieri's veto of a bill providing domestic partners of state employees access to state pension and retirement benefits.

The legislation includes all employees with pensions managed through the Employee Retirement System of RI – teachers, judges, and other state and municipal employees. To qualify, partners must have lived together for one year and be financially interdependent.

"With this override, the General Assembly has sent a clear message: all public employees should be treated fairly, and deserve equal benefits for equal work," said Jenn Steinfeld, Director of Marriage Equality Rhode Island. Steinfeld noted, however that the bill falls far short of full marriage equality. "We encourage the General Assembly to demonstrate their concern for Rhode Island families by passing equal marriage legislation," she said.

Another baby step. In September the New York state employees' retirement system began offering benefits to gay couples legally married in other jurisdictions.