Thursday, May 2, 2013
A bill legalizing same-sex marriage passed 56-15.
Sixteen years after legislation was initially introduced in Rhode Island, same-sex marriage is now legal in the Ocean State. On Thursday afternoon, the Rhode Island House of Representatives passed the legislation with a vote of 56-15. "This is a great day in Rhode Island, not just for the many Rhode Island families who will now get the recognition and equality that they so richly deserve, and not only for the thousands who have been fighting for decades for the dignity and rights of all citizens," said House Speaker Gordon Fox, the first openly gay House Speaker in the nation who has cosponsored the legislation every year. "It is also a wonderful day for the generations of future Rhode Islanders who may never know a time when some …
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
With the Senate's approval, the bill now goes to Gov. Lincoln Chafee for his signature.
In a 26-12 vote, the Rhode Island Senate on Wednesday approved a bill that would allow same-sex marriage in the state, the last in New England to approve such a measure. The House of Representatives voted 51-19 on Jan. 25 to approve that chamber's version of the bill. Should the House pass the Senate version, the legislation would go to Gov. Lincoln Chafee, who has pledged his support. [In two ceremonial measures, the Senate also approved the House bill, 26-12, and sent its bill to the House for approval.] With Senate President Teresa Paiva-Weed's announcement of the vote count at 5:45 pm, Rhode Island moved one step closer to allowing gay couples to marry. Sen. Donna Nesselbush (D-Pawtucket, North Providence), the lead sponsor of the bill…
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
The state House Judiciary Committee has scheduled a vote on the controversial measure for 3 pm on Jan. 22.
A vote by the State House Judiciary committee on a bill allowing same-sex marriage in Rhode Island is scheduled for a vote Tuesday afternoon at 3 p.m., the General Assembly Press Bureau announced. The "Equal Access to Marriage" bill — submitted in the House by Cranston Rep. Arthur Handy and co-sponsored by Rep. Kenneth A. Marshall (D-Dist. 68, Bristol, Warren) — would make Rhode Island the last state in New England to allow same-sex marriages, and would recognize any civil unions as marriages. According to a release from the General Assembly Press Bureau, "no further testimony will be taken at this hearing." The agenda for today's hearing is attached to this article. What's your take? Is it about time the government stops discriminating …
Friday, January 4, 2013
Cranston State Rep. Arthur Handy has submitted the bill every year for more than a decade. This year could be the year it finally gets to a floor vote.
For 10 years, Cranston Rep. Arthur Handy has introduced the same bill every legislative session that would allow same-sex couple to marry. This year, his bill might actually get passed as House Speaker Gordon Fox has pledged to put a vote to the floor by the end of the month. The legislation has broad support, with 42 members of the House signing on as sponsors and 11 members of the Senate. “We are long overdue. Rhode Island, the colony founded on the principle of personal liberty, is now the only New England state that doesn’t allow same-gender couples equal marriage. Rhode Islanders recognize that same-gender couples deserve the rights and responsibilities that other couples already enjoy, and support has been getting wider every year…
Jack Baillargeron
6:25 pm on Thursday, May 2, 2013
Can we get back to the real problems confronting this State, like taxes, fraud, waste, abuse, social programs, EDC, 21 quasi-government waste of money entities, waste on open space, so called green energy and on and on. Not to mention worst State in the Nation to open or do business in. more ›