It's Just a Game

It's Just a Game

I'm sorry, but I'm not prepared to believe that this divorce was anything but a game to force Rhode Island to recognize same-sex marriages performed elsewhere. The case is Chambers v. Ormiston (R.I. 2007). The facts of the case are that Chambers and Ormiston, both women, were residents of Rhode Island. In May of 2004, they went to Massachusetts, and got "married." Then they came back to Rhode Island, and on October 23, 2006, they filed for divorce in Rhode Island--insisting that Rhode Island, which does not recognize same-sex marriage, should recognize it for purposes of divorce.

And what do you know: the Rhode Island Supreme Court said that there is no same-sex marriage recognized in Rhode Island law. Therefore, they would not untie a knot tied elsewhere.

Is there anyone who doesn't see this "divorce" as a little game to try and trick Rhode Island into recognizing a marriage? The goal, of course, would have been then to go back to court, and argue that if Rhode Island was prepared to divorce them, then they had effectively recognizes same-sex marriage.