Oh, c’mon Rhode Island.  Just do it.

gaywrites:

The governor of Rhode Island announced yesterday that the state would begin to recognize marriages between two people of the same sex performed in other states. 

Gov. Lincoln Chafee signed an order directing state agencies to treat opposite-sex and same-sex marriages equally, including in matters like health and life insurance and other benefits. Rhode Island allows civil unions but bans marriage equality. More on benefits:

The executive order is expected to have many real-world implications. Same-sex spouses of state employees and anyone covered by an insurance company regulated in Rhode Island will be entitled to health and life insurance benefits, gay rights advocates say.

Both partners in a same-sex couple will be able to list their names as parents on a child’s birth certificate, and same-sex couples will be entitled to sales tax exemptions on the transfer of property including vehicles.

Woohoo! Honestly, isn’t this just the first step towards making marriage equality a reality here too? Let’s make it happen.