Rhode Island House Votes 51-19 for Marriage Equality

[JockBoy87]

Watching the live cast on WPRI, after a mostly supportive debate, Rhode Island is half way to being the final New England state to offer marriage equality. A strong and bipartisan vote of 51 passed a same sex marriage bill. No publication shows the vote breakdown as of this post. See the state's press release.

The Senate President Theresa Paiva Weed has committed to a vote, but it is expected to be more difficult to pass.

Rhode Island would be the 10th US state to allow marriage equality after Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, Iowa, New Hampshire, New York, Maine, Maryland, and the state of Washington.

[JockBoy87]

A roll call has been published: http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/H...rt.asp?id=9899

The Republican House Minority Leader Brian Newberry voted for marriage equality, which is possibly a first for a legislative body.

[Rolyo85]

Is there any info on when it's going to the Senate, and what the expected votes are there?

[maxpowr9]

Now now jockboy, let's use the full name: The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. The smallest state has the longest official name.

[CTF]

Now now jockboy, let's use the full name: The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. The smallest state has the longest official name.

And the last to ratify the U.S. Constitution, but still...as a Gay Man this news is enough get one's nipples hard.

Or in JockBoy87's case out of his Jock.





Not that he'd take it off mind you, but that it could no longer contain him.

[maxpowr9]

^They're always been the more conservative state. They were also the last state in "the Union" to abolish slavery. Brown University was actually founded on the backs of slaves. It's why many Rhodies want to get rid of the "Providence Plantations" part of the state's name.

[CTF]

^ I can't speak for State's names, but I have learned in the Corporate world that the longer your Job Title is on your business card, the less money you actually make.

[xbuzzerx]

Now now jockboy, let's use the full name: The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. The smallest state has the longest official name.

Overcompensation imho.

And why the hell doesn't CA have gay marriage back yet. Hurry up Supreme Court.

[CowboyBob]

Hooray for the Coffee-Milk crowd.

[scream4ever]

Was Newberry the only Republican to vote for it? I know Costa voted it down despite having voted for it in committee.

[Just_Believe18]

Although it is unfortunate marriage equality lacked the support of the Republican Party, it is heartening to see that once again the Democrat party stood for social justice and built the momentum to see this day come to pass.

[CoolBlue71]

It is great news!

[JockBoy87]

Although it is unfortunate marriage equality lacked the support of the Republican Party, it is heartening to see that once again the Democrat party stood for social justice and built the momentum to see this day come to pass.

There are 6 Republicans in the RI House, of 75 members. The only other lopsided chamber I can think of is Hawaii's Senate, which has 1 Republican out of 25 members.

Anyway, it looks like Newberry was the only one.

[maxpowr9]

There are 6 Republicans in the RI House, of 75 members. The only other lopsided chamber I can think of is Hawaii's Senate, which has 1 Republican out of 25 members.

Anyway, it looks like Newberry was the only one.

Clearly you have not seen MA's chambers. In the house it is 127-33 Democrats and the senate is 36-4 Democrats. With a Democrat governor, they could essentially do whatever the fuck they want.

[JockBoy87]

Clearly you have not seen MA's chambers. In the house it is 127-33 Democrats and the senate is 36-4 Democrats. With a Democrat governor, they could essentially do whatever the fuck they want.

Of course, it depends on how ideologically pure those majorities are.

[T-Rexx]

Opponents, meanwhile, were confident that the measure would not succeed.

“The Senate has always been a stalwart for protecting life, marriage and family in Rhode Island,” said Christopher Plante, the executive director of the National Organization for Marriage Rhode Island, the driving force behind the opposition here. “Rhode Island has bigger issues than gay marriage,” Mr. Plante said. “Our economy remains stagnant at best, in the tank at worst. We’re tied for the worst unemployment rate in the nation. There’s going to be a lot of things on the agenda between now and whenever the Senate decides to take this up.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/25/us...-marriage.html

I am hopeful, but I will celebrate only after gay marriage becomes law in Rhode Island.

[maxpowr9]

Of course, it depends on how ideologically pure those majorities are.

Yeah, my former congressman is considering running for Kerry's seat [Stephen Lynch and no, not the comedian] and he's anti-choice yet a Democrat. I would pick him over Harry Reid lite aka Ed Markey. I would prefer the Democrats elect a younger senator.

[scream4ever]

Meanwhile in the Senate at least two Republicans are expected to vote for the bill (one of which is a co-sponsor, and the other sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee), while a third is considered a likely Yes.

[JockBoy87]

Meanwhile in the Senate at least two Republicans are expected to vote for the bill (one of which is a co-sponsor, and the other sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee), while a third is considered a likely Yes.

Awesome

That gives us the opportunity to lose a third of the Democrats. We have Rhode Island as the 10th state easily now.

[JockBoy87]

Senate is split 15-15 with 8 undecideds.

http://news.providencejournal.com/po...-be-close.html

[Rolyo85]

Dafuq?! What now?

[JockBoy87]

Dafuq?! What now?

It's dead even.

Nobody knows if the House bill will be able to pass the Senate.

[scream4ever]

It's dead even.

Nobody knows if the House bill will be able to pass the Senate.

I expect it'll be the same scinerio as in New York, where it will go back and forth and may require greater religious exemptions, but in the end it will pass.

[JockBoy87]

I expect it'll be the same scinerio as in New York, where it will go back and forth and may require greater religious exemptions, but in the end it will pass.

All that does is reiterate the 1st Amendment. Whatever makes them happy... I'd be embarrassed to be a member of that chamber quite frankly.

[Ninja108]

http://www.policymic.com/articles/29...-united-states

An update on the bill in Rhode Island. We rightfully bash many Republicians on here but make no mistake,just because she has a D next to her name,Teresa Paiva Weed is no ally of gay marriage and is the key reason there is no gay marriage in Rhode Island right now.

[JockBoy87]

http://www.policymic.com/articles/29...-united-states

An update on the bill in Rhode Island. We rightfully bash many Republicians on here but make no mistake,just because she has a D next to her name,Teresa Paiva Weed is no ally of gay marriage and is the key reason there is no gay marriage in Rhode Island right now.

Well she is a graduate of Catholic University, there's your first clue, and probably half of the rest of the chamber are devout Catholics. What's more, the Vatican, as we all know, tends to grow very long tentacles.

[Ninja108]

Well she is a graduate of Catholic University, there's your first clue, and probably half of the rest of the chamber are devout Catholics. What's more, the Vatican, as we all know, tends to grow very long tentacles.

Oh I know,if nothing else, I have friends in RI that made it known to me several years ago that she was just as bad as any Republician in the Bible Belt and that RI would be the last state in the Northeast to see gay marriage. And they were right.
As for the Catholic church,their stance is one of the reasons my parents left a long time ago.

[scream4ever]

I still think this year she really has no choice but to allow a vote and have it pass, lest she wants herself and chamber members to face primary hell in 2014.

As far as the northeast, Pennsylvania will be the last one to pass marriage equality.

[chrisrobin]

.
The latest trend being what it is, the rapid movement to marriage equality seems to be inexorable. What is frustrating for the opposition is that they realize this fact. I would consider their efforts to stem the movement toward equality as futile as trying to mop water off the floor with a brick. I hope the Civil Rights Act of 1964 will include sexual orientation. We can only hope.

[Ninja108]

I still think this year she really has no choice but to allow a vote and have it pass, lest she wants herself and chamber members to face primary hell in 2014.

As far as the northeast, Pennsylvania will be the last one to pass marriage equality.

She doesn't,which is why they are trying to put in loathesome religious exemptions beyond the normal churches won't be forced to marry etc.

[eastofeden]

Well she is a graduate of Catholic University, there's your first clue, and probably half of the rest of the chamber are devout Catholics. What's more, the Vatican, as we all know, tends to grow very long tentacles.

Nancy Pelosi is also a Catholic and she fully supports gay marraige equality...before most others did. She has stated that her Catholic faith "Compels" her to support same sex marraige.

"My religion has, compels me--and I love it for it--to be against discrimination of any kind in our country, and I consider this a form of discrimination. I think it’s unconstitutional on top of that. "

http://cnsnews.com/news/article/pelo...e-sex-marriage

[lambdaboy]

Whuke all this gives hope for tomorrow, without a federal law no benefits like married heterosexuals will be given to the other partner. Such as filing a joint tax return, which at time will lower the tax paid. Survivors Social Security Benefits. I am American my partner and I live in London. We have a civil partnership and have the same rights as a married couple. Hope the States get there in my life time.

[palemale]

Well she is a graduate of Catholic University, there's your first clue, and probably half of the rest of the chamber are devout Catholics. What's more, the Vatican, as we all know, tends to grow very long tentacles.

Catholics support same sex marriage at a higher percentage than the population as a whole. I believe Jews are the only religious group that supports it at higher numbers than Catholics. Keep in mind that most of the states that recognize same sex marriage have large Catholic populations. Massachusetts, New York, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Vermont are all states in the top 10 for highest percentage of Catholics. http://www.statemaster.com/graph/peo...tage-catholics

New Jersey is in the top 10 and will pass same sex marriage as soon as Governor Fat Fuck is out of office.

Also, of the top 10 Catholic states, all are solidly blue states except for Arizona. Arizona will probably be a blue state once more Latino immigrants, who are largely Catholic, become citizens.

[JockBoy87]

^^^ I've seen the polling on Catholics in the 50s percent, mostly because US Catholics (and Jews for that matter) live in urban areas, but this is Rhode Island, where Catholics in the Senate are conservative, which is what I meant by "devout."

Perhaps you didn't see Ninja's post:

Oh I know,if nothing else, I have friends in RI that made it known to me several years ago that she was just as bad as any Republician in the Bible Belt and that RI would be the last state in the Northeast to see gay marriage. And they were right.
As for the Catholic church,their stance is one of the reasons my parents left a long time ago.

[palemale]

^^^ I've seen the polling on Catholics in the 50s percent, mostly because US Catholics (and Jews for that matter) live in urban areas, but this is Rhode Island, where Catholics in the Senate are conservative, which is what I meant by "devout."

Perhaps you didn't see Ninja's post:

I did see it. The vote in the RI House of Representatives voted for marriage equality by a pretty lopsided margin, and I assume most of the representatives were Catholic. There seems to be only one person in the Senate, the Senate President, who is holding up the vote. Is there any reason to believe, once the Senate does vote, that it will be any less lopsided than the vote in the House of Representatives? My point is that, just because there is a reactionary Catholic Democratic leader in the Senate, it doesn't mean that she is a reflection of Catholic sentiment in general.

[JockBoy87]

I did see it. The vote in the RI House of Representatives voted for marriage equality by a pretty lopsided margin, and I assume most of the representatives were Catholic. There seems to be only one person in the Senate, the Senate President, who is holding up the vote. Is there any reason to believe, once the Senate does vote, that it will be any less lopsided than the vote in the House of Representatives? My point is that, just because there is a reactionary Catholic Democratic leader in the Senate, it doesn't mean that she is a reflection of Catholic sentiment in general.

None of the three Democratic leaders in the Senate support same-sex marriage, not the President, not the chairman of the committee, and not the majority leader.

[Ninja108]

palemale it will only come to a vote if the leaders in the Senate want it too.
They can and have come up with excuses to delay or simply not allow a vote.

[palemale]

palemale it will only come to a vote if the leaders in the Senate want it too.
They can and have come up with excuses to delay or simply not allow a vote.

Then primary the bitch. If she wins, get the losing candidate to run as a third party candidate. Better a Republican then this reactionary jerk. There's Democrats to spare in RI.

[JockBoy87]

Then primary the bitch. If she wins, get the losing candidate to run as a third party candidate. Better a Republican then this reactionary jerk. There's Democrats to spare in RI.

Oh I think she feels the heat, especially after Maine, which almost certainly why she has promised to hold a vote. If she does not, and the others as well, I will definitely spring my wallet to support a challenger, or even a spoiler. The community up there is pissed, sick, and tired of the stonewalling from Rhode Island's Senate democrats. New England gays are ready to spend and stump, and so am I.

[Ninja108]

I will gladly throw a dollar or two to help support someone else. In my neck of the woods,the LGBT community helped make sure a local congresswomen who had high marks from the Family Research Council only served one term in office.
As Jockboy said,the Senate Democrats who have been blocking gay marriage in RI ARE feeling the heat and there is no doubt they could face primary challengers if they don't allow a vote soon.

[JockBoy87]

The Senate Judiciary Committee will hear the bill on March 21.

http://equalityontrial.com/2013/03/1...ill-next-week/

[Ninja108]

There is a counter bill which has no chance of passing being proposed by Frank Ciccone,another conservative Democrat who has helped block marriage equlity in RI.
I believe gay marriage will come to Rhode Island but as Jockboy mentioned,the Democratic leaders will be dragging their feet the whole time.
Sorry to sound harsh about religion but this country isn't a theocracy and every Democrat (for the most part) that has been fighting marriage equality in NY,Illinois etc seems to have as much trouble with seperation of church and state as the Republician party does.

[Ninja108]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/anthon...ref=gay-voices

Disguisting,I guess the bigots in Rhode Island want to make sure the ones down South don't out do them.

[JockBoy87]

There is a counter bill which has no chance of passing being proposed by Frank Ciccone,another conservative Democrat who has helped block marriage equlity in RI.

The offensive counter bill has lost two important sponsors. One has since said he will support the House bill on the floor, and the other (Raptakis) is leaning towards it. Raptakis is also a crucial vote on the committee if we do not have Conley's support.

The counter bill will be dead shortly, and anyway, it wouldn't go anywhere in the House.

Hopefully the House bill passes the Senate committee. The vote will be riveting. If there is a 7-3 vote tomorrow in committee, which means the support of Raptakis, then we are looking in great shape to make Rhode Island the 10th state.

According to Metroweekly, we are pretty well divided in the Senate, but one Republican from the undecided camp is probably going to vote yes. Again, if there is a great result in committee tomorrow, I think we will have passage on the Senate floor.

[scream4ever]

Also Jabour has confirmed his support for the bill. Overall things are sounding pretty promising. It'll be huge if a majority of the Republicans in the Senate vote in favor!

[Ninja108]

Here's hoping by the end of the year RI will have marriage equality. ANd if anyone wants to get a preview of what it will be like in Bible Belt states down the line when they will be forced to address the issue of gay marriage,RI is it.

[rareboy]

As always, we Eskimos up here are keeping our fingers crossed for RI.

[JockBoy87]

Senate Judiciary Committee hearing LIVE

http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/CapTV/P...reaming_2.aspx

[star-warrior]

And the last to ratify the U.S. Constitution, but still...as a Gay Man this news is enough get one's nipples hard.

Or in JockBoy87's case out of his Jock.

That's a mighty big jock, or his nipples are a bit too far south of his navel...

[Ninja108]

If you want to see bigots being forced to get dragged into the 21st century,watch the feed above. Make no mistake,all the top big wigs(whom are Democrats) do NOT want this bill to have a hearing at all but know they have no choice.