Governor Don Carcieri says he would consider offering legal protection to gay couples [video]

GAY MARRIAGE

Rhode Island Governor Don Carcieri says he would may back a domestic partnership system offering legal protections for same-sex couples.

Carcieri, who is completely against gay marriage, made his announcement after meeting with a group of gay rights activists in private.

Earlier this week, we told you that Rhode Island Governor Don Carcieri vetoed a bill that would have allowed same-sex couples to make funeral arrangements for their partners.

"The important thing here was a broader discussion that ... hopefully could go somewhere that I think might deal with a lot of these situations short of what we call marriage," he said. 

This isn't the first time Governor Carcieri has considered supporting gay rights.  In 2006, Carcieri told The Associated Press that he opposed gay marriage and civil unions designed specifically to benefit same-sex couples.