It must be that Yankee independence, all the New England states now recognize same-sex unions. Except Rhode Island, which is not ready to be that free. From the NYT...
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — New Hampshire’s governor has signed legislation making the state the sixth to allow gay marriage.
Gov. John Lynch was Surrounded by cheering supporters of the move as he signed the three bills about an hour after the key vote on the legislation in the House.
The bill includes protections for religious groups, so that they don’t have to recognize same-sex, or previously divorced, or unbelievers or annulled marriages. That’s a relief.
Although Rhode Island is the last New England state that doesn’t legally recognize same-sex partners, a bill passed the senate today that would establish domestic partner’s rights to claim the bodies of, and make funeral arrangements, for their loved ones. The language doesn’t specify gender, so it would apply to heterosexual couples equally. See the whole story at ProJo.com.
This bill was inspired by the testimony of Mark S. Goldberg, who told a senate committee about the legal nightmare he suffered when his partner of seventeen years died. I was there when he spoke, and no one should have to go through that, so I hope the bill becomes law.
Kmareka.com 
I never understood why anyone couldn’t just write a will specifying who would tend to their funeral arrangements.Unless the person were mentally incapacitated what was ever to stop them?
Or a health care surrogate for that matter?
Still no reaction to that murdered soldier?
Was Tiller’s murder somehow worse?
The silence on the left around here is very loud.
Joe, were you there at the meeting? Mark Goldberg tried everything. It took weeks. His partner was ‘unclaimed’ all the time he was trying to arrange the cremation that his partner always said he wanted.
Of course I wasn’t there-I just asked why his partner,or anyone else,couldn’t have specified his funeral arrangements in a simple will?I can’t believe that gay people aren’t allowed to execute durable powers of attorney and wills right now.
I like going back and forth with you,but I wonder why when I ask a question that is uncomfortable,you avoid it.I try to answer directly when I’m asked something on a blog.
People may not like my answer,but that’s life.
Mark Goldberg was at the hearing on same sex marriage at the state house, the one where Chris Young gave a long, paper shuffling testimony. That’s where Goldberg spoke about arranging a cremation for his partner. I thought you were there but there may have been more than one meeting.
I was never at a statehouse hearing on SSM because I have no position on it.I did watch it on tv for awhile because the testimony was anything but dull and I saw you on that program.I saw Chris Young on what I think was a later program. don’t recall Mark Goldberg,so I probably didn’t watch his testimony.