Gay Weddings are Good for Business

So, there's good news and there's bad news...civil unions were just signed into law in Rhode Island, effective July 1, 2011.  How can this possibly be bad?  I mean, think of all those Newport gay weddings (and civil unions)!

Well, the only way the bill passed was if it included the right for religious institutions to not recognize a civil union.  This basically legalizes discrimination by religious institutions.  The law of course gives a church the right to say, "We won't perform a gay wedding here" (which is totally fine if they so choose).  But it also allows religious institutions to deny other services to same-sex couples, such as adoptions, social services, funerals and so forth.  Some religious exceptions are fine (religious exceptions were needed in order for gay marriage to pass in New York) - but these ones seem particularly extreme.

As a wedding professional, if you are serving couples in Rhode Island, keep an extra eye out for potential discrimination from religious institutions for your clients!