Civil unions may make for good legislative compromise in Rhode Island's gay marriage debate, but the proposal won nothing but scorn during a public hearing at the Statehouse on Wednesday.

Gay marriage supporters told lawmakers that civil unions treat gay couples as second-class citizens. Opponents said the bill creates an easy steppingstone to full marriage rights for same-sex couples.

The bill would allow a gay couple to form a civil union granting all of the rights and benefits given to married couples under Rhode Island law.