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Rhode Island next state to attempt gay marriage bill

by Susan Marie Kovalinsky | February 8, 2010 at 11:18 am

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Rhode Island new battlefield state in gay marriage fight

After heavy losses and reversals of fortune in Maine, New York, and New Jersey - and with problems plaguing the Proposition 8 trial in San Francisco - the gay marriage movement continues to inch its way forward.

The new battlefield state will be Rhode Island.

Despite continued opposition from the state's Governor and from the Roman Catholic Church, Ocean State LGBT advocates are remain cautiously optimistic about their chance to legalize gay marriage in the state.

A bill is due to be introduced in the General Assembly during the next few months. In the interim, proponents of the legislative measure will continue to lobby legislators to gain further support.

Marriage Equality Rhode Island will hold a rally at the State House in Providence on Wednesday to urge lawmakers to support the bill.

"We’ve got a lot of supporters and we want to get as many people signed onto the bill as we can," Kathy Kushnir, executive director of MERI, said.
For the past 13 years, a marriage bill has never made it out of either the House or Senate Judiciary Committees for a vote. This lack of movement has caused much frustration among LGBT activists and their supporters.

House Speaker William Murphy (D-West Warwick,) opposes marriage for same-sex couples and has faced allegations of not allowing the bill to come to a vote. House Majority Leader Gordon Fox (D-Providence,) who is openly gay, however, is poised to succeed Murphy.
Murphy has already announced his intentions to leave his position at the end of this year, although he may leave earlier. Fox’s departure would give marriage advocates a needed boost.
Kushnir conceded she does not know if this year will be any different than past years, but she would prefer that action on the legislation be taken sooner rather than later.

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Hugh Askew

at 13:58 on February 8th, 2010

Maybe some folks like getting beat. Only esplanation i can come up with, Lucy.

stdslove (not verified)

at 22:04 on February 20th, 2010

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