PROVIDENCE -- Gov. Don Carcieri said Thursday that he would open to exploring and possibly supporting domestic partnerships in Rhode Island.
Domestic partnerships would give same-sex couples many of the same rights that come with marriage, but it would not quite be marriage.
The remarks followed a meeting with members of the gay-rights group Queer Action of Rhode Island.
The group was upset that the governor vetoed a bill this week that would have given domestic partners -- gay or heterosexual -- the right to plan the funerals of their late partners.
Carcieri said the bill was unnecessary because a will or a power of attorney can accomplish the same thing.
He said instead of addressing same-sex issues piecemeal that a more global approach, like domestic partnerships, is needed.
"The important thing here was a broader discussion that I think, hopefully, could go somewhere that I think might deal with a lot these situations short of what we call marriage," Carcieri said.
Members of Queer Action said the governor still has a way to go until he understands the problems he is causing for gay couples.
"Every bit of process is great," said Susan Heroux. "Just the fact that we're able to talk to him directly. We're able to show him how his actions and words affect our lives is a great step forward. The fact that he's willing to keep talking to us is a great step forward.
"I think that we are interested in getting all of the rights. Not just some of them."
The governor's office said Cariceri has not changed his position. It said that he is usually asked about same-sex marriage, which he staunchly opposes, and not about domestic partnerships.
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