Breaking: Rhode Island On Way to Be 10th state to Allow Gay Marriage (After State Senate Approval)

[Hissyspit]

Source: Associated Press

RI ON WAY TO BE 10TH STATE TO ALLOW GAY MARRIAGE

By DAVID KLEPPER — Apr. 24 5:56 PM EDT

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Rhode Island senators put the state on the path Wednesday to becoming the 10th state to allow same-sex couples to marry.

The gay marriage legislation easily passed the Rhode Island House in January, and the Senate vote was seen as the true test. The bill passed 26-12, and now returns to the House for a largely procedural vote, likely next week, before going to Gov. Lincoln Chafee, who supports the legislation.

"This is a historic piece of legislation, one that literally has been in the works for more than 20 years," said Sen. Donna Nesselbush, D-Pawtucket, the bill's main sponsor in the Senate. "This is something that undoes centuries of discrimination against gay and lesbian couples."

While the other five New England states already allow gay marriage, heavily Catholic Rhode Island has been a hold-out. Supporters this year mounted an aggressive and coordinated campaign that included organized labor, religious leaders, business owners and leaders including Chafee and Providence Mayor Angel Taveras.

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/ri-lawmakers-vote-gay-marriage

[hrmjustin]

1. Glad to hear it!

[Lil Missy]

2. More good news!

[LeftofObama]

3. Great news!

[uppityperson]

4. k&r and I am amused looking at the avatars of those who have replied here so far.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

5. Were all the votes against this by Democrats?

It looks like it. Shame on them!

[hack89]

10. Every Republican voted yes.

of course there are only 5 of them.

[tofuandbeer]

6. I live in California...and I cannot believe that our state passed a proposition not allowing it.

It's shameful.
Congrats, RI!

[ForgoTheConsequence]

7. Congrats Rhode Island.

but this is shameful.

The Senate debate lasted from about 4:30 to 5:45 p.m., when the vote was taken. The chamber's top two Democrats - Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed and Senate Majority Leader Dominick Ruggerio - were among the dozen senators who voted against the bill.

Sen. Harold Metts, D-Providence, cited his religious beliefs as he spoke at length in opposition to the bill. "The Bible is clear: God ordained marriage between one man and one woman," he said. Metts, who is black, also rejected comparisons to the civil rights movement, saying: "I can change my sexual preference tonight if I want to, but I can't change my color."

http://www.wpri.com/dpp/news/politics/state_politics/ri-senate-same-sex-marriage-vote




ALL the Republicans voted in favor of gay marriage FYI. Shameful!

[gaspee]

8. As a 1 party state

We have quite a few Dinos. We tried to get rid of the one in my district last election, but he squeaked by.

Most of the problem is the catholics are powerful in this state.

[hack89]

11. We are the most Catholic state in America.

we are surprisingly conservative on many social issues.

[hack89]

9. I have never been prouder to call myself a Rhode Islander. nt

[brooklynite]

12. 'Thrilled' RI Speaker Fox: Same-sex marriage headed for likely General Assembly passage next week

Providence Journal:

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Describing himself as "thrilled'' by the Senate's passage of same-sex marriage legislation, the state's openly-gay House Speaker Gordon Fox promised what could be the final votes on the legislation next week.
He promised a House Judiciary Committee vote next Tuesday, and barring unforeseen developments, final votes on Thursday.

"I am thrilled that the Senate passed an historic equality bill which will enable all loving couples in Rhode Island to have the freedom to marry,'' he said. "I thank all the Senators who supported the bills sponsored by Sen. Donna Nesselbush and Rep. Art Handy, two unwavering advocates for marriage equality.