Carcieri's veto of 'gender' bill criticized

01:00 AM EDT on Saturday, July 10, 2010
By Karen Lee Ziner
Journal Staff Writer

http://www.projo.com/news/content/GLBT_PROTEST_07-10-10_8KJ5AFP_v16.14cf317.html

PROVIDENCE –– Leaders of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender organizations and their supporters criticized Governor Carcieri on Friday for vetoing a bill last month that would have added "gender identity and gender-related expression" to Rhode Island's Hate Crimes Monitoring Act.

The bill would support additional police training and data collection about such crimes. It passed by majority in the House and Senate.

Carcieri said he vetoed the bill, as he did in 2008, because he found the terms gender identity or expression "confusing." He signed the veto on June 22, a little more than a week after the General Assembly wrapped its tumultuous 2010 legislative session.

I'm proud to say that I was part of this activity at the Rhode Island Statehouse.