Rhode Island committee sends civil union bill to House

[JURIST] Rhode Island’s House Judiciary Committee [official website] sent Bill 2011-H6103 [text, PDF] to the House floor [official website] after a 9-3 vote [AP report] in favor of it on Tuesday. The bill was introduced earlier this month [press release] and is modeled after similar laws in Illinois, Delaware and Hawaii [JURIST reports], granting all rights of marriage to same-sex couples. The bill, considered a compromise between gay and anti-gay rights activists, has upset both groups [AP report]. The House…