Gay Marriage Returns To RI Legislature

by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff

Posted: May 8, 2008 - 10:30 am ET

(Providence, Rhode Island) A House committee room was packed well into the night Wednesday in what has become an annual debate in Rhode Island over same-sex marriage.

The House Judiciary Committee is considering several bills involving same-sex couples, including one that would allow gay and lesbian couples to marry and for the first time legislation that would allow couples married in areas where it is legal to end their marriages in Rhode Island.

For the tenth consecutive year Marriage Equality Rhode Island testified that same-sex couples need the protection of marriage equality.

Jenn Steinfeld, Executive Director of Marriage Equality RI, said her organization supports the Equal Marriage Act, Sponsored by Rep. Arthur Handy (D) which would allow all Rhode Island couples the equal freedom to marry.

A group opposed to gay marriage told lawmakers that allowing same-sex couples to marry would erode traditional marriages. Washington-based National Organization For Marriage sent its president Maggie Gallagher to the hearing that traditional marriage brings together "the two great halves of humanity - male and female - to make and raise the next generation."

Gallagher's group supports a move by state Rep. Jon D. Brien (D) to ask voters in November to approve a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman and which would nullify any recognition of marriages, civil unions or domestic partnerships for same-sex couples.

Two bills concerning divorce for same-sex couples also were debated.

Rhode Island is the only state which does not specifically define marriage as a union between a man and a women. As a result gay and lesbian couples can go to Massachusetts to wed.

But last December the state's top court ruled that Rhode Island gays who cross the state line to marry in Massachusetts cannot divorce in Rhode Island. In a split decision the court left the issue of divorce to the loegislature.

The Equal Divorce Act would allow same-sex couples who married outside of Rhode Island to divorce in Rhode Island. The other bill would amend the state's divorce law to specifically state that Rhode Island does not recognize marriages between same-sex couples.

Lawyers for Equality and Diversity said that by not allowing same-sex couples who have married in areas where it is legal to divorce in Rhode Island creates a legal nightmare.

After nearly six hours of testimony the committee adjourned without taking a vote and giving no indication when it might.

Both House Speaker William J. Murphy and Senate President Joseph A. Montalbano have opposed same-sex marriage in the past.

Prior to the meeting Wednesday Gov. Don Carcieri, through a spokesperson, said he also continues to oppose gay marriage.