For the twelfth straight year, Rhode Island legislators will forgo an opportunity to grant gay residents the equal rights they deserve. That hasn't kept demonstrators from hitting the state capitol building to show their elected officials where they stand, as they just did. Of course, the battle to have the last remaining New England state join the rest in offering same-sex marriage isn't just an uphill battle, it's a bloody war: Even if marriage advocates could get legislators to pass Catholic Republican Gov. Don Carcieri has promised he will veto the bill.
But there has been some news on the same-sex marriage front: Legislators granted same-sex couples rights when it comes to the death of their partners. On the one hand, it's a slap in the face to the marriage equality movement ("We get rights only when we die?!"); on the other hand, it's one step toward recognizing same-sex relationships. And if conservatives are fearful of such legislation, you know we're on the right track — or at least we've found the path.
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Question: If the support is there as you describe, is there an intiative process available in Rhoad Island to get this on the ballot so that voters can support it? This would destroy the last plank of the anti-marriage argument.
@The Gay Numbers: I don't believe so. I think Maine and Massachusetts are fairly unique in their use of the initiative process. Most Northeastern states simply lack it.
Not a surprise from a state founded by a cultist freak group.
@Alec: Too bad. It really would dot the i's and cross the t's on the last remaining anti-gay rights arguments to have a state pass such a measure by popular vote when it came to arguing such a case in the courts. Of course, they could still punt using such a political process to say the issue is resolving itself, but this would make such arguments that there is no one willing to recognitive gay equality false on their face domestically. I can certainly see such results influencing Kennedy considering he was influenced by foreign law (at least in dicta) in the Lawrence decision. Would such a move influence him if a popular ballot were to pass?
@Fitz: Uh… huh… you're free to crack a history book at any time.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R.....heologian)
Yup. Real wacko.
Chris Plante, Mr.NOM guy…..closet case!
Does he set off your gaydar too?
WHAT MAKES THIS PLANTE GUY AN AUTHORITY ON HUMAN SEXUALITY?
@Disgusted American: It's because he's part of the Christianist Master race and so therefore he automatically has authority on issues involving science, sexuality, culture, history, enlightenment, art, and anything that is anything. We cannot question Christianists because they control the country with an iron fist and we must do as they say or they'll Christianize us. After all this country was founded as a playground for the white Evangelical man and we must all do as they say because this is a CUNTry of moral Christian values and not like that anti-religious Mecca known as Iran.
@Quinn: Roger Williams. Religious freak. Kicked out of England. "You and your freaky friends too" basically.
@Fitz:
Fitz.
I was being facetious. You should read your history.
He was kicked out of the Massachusetts colony because he was in favour of religious tolerance and peaceful relations with the natives. No religious freak at all.
And yes, the Puritans did come to north america wanting to establish a theocratic state, but it is a little bit more complex than that.
It will be fabulous when Rhode Island gets marriage, but I don't feel too bad for Rhode Islanders in the meantime. Their AG has said that the state must recognize same-sex marriages from other states. Since RI is about two feet wide and surrounded by states that allow same-sex marriage, it's not too hard for folks there to pop over to Connecticut or Massachusetts and tie the knot.
@strumpetwindsock: Actually, he was kicked out of England AND Boston. And they weren't calling themselves "Puritans". That's a newer name. They called themselves 'Saints', because they thought that they were. And Williams was only in favor of religious tolerance of the Native people because he didn't think that they had souls. I am well aware of my history.
@Fitz:
Then I have to ask what your definition of a religious freak is.
Compared to other Puritans who were hanging those who didn't agree with them and killing natives, he seems like a forward-thinking and reasonable person to me.
And "saint" simply means church member. The mormons used the same word in the same way.
"God is too large to be housed under one roof," Williams said. He was also in favour of the separation of church and state, unlike most of the Puritans.
If that is the opinion of a freak then you can call me one too (though I am not religious).
http://www.iangoddard.com/roger.htm
On one hand, RI has a rather forward approach when it comes to recognizing same sex unions to begin with. On the other hand, it would be nice if gay marriage was in RI. Roger Williams is a distant ancestor (on my mother's side), so issues in RI matter a lot to my family.
I wanna face palm the dumb ass dude that honestly believes their is no basis for gay and lesbian behavior. Its dudes like this jack ass that honestly believe I woke up one day and decided I wanted to be ostracized by my entire family, I wanted my mother to cry every day because she would never have grand children (yeah I know I can adopt), and I wanted my father to never speak to me about anyone I ever cared about. This dude honestly believes that I decide to be single in a small town because I can't find a decent man when there is a plethora of small town sluts that I could be with. This dude honestly believes I wanted all my friends to abandon me when I came out. This dude honestly believes that people kill themselves rather than come out and live lies their entire life until it kills them because they chose to. You know what jack ass, you are so right, I chose this. I woke up one day when I was 12 and said, I think I want to bang a boy instead of a girl. The same way you woke up one day and said you wanted to bang a girl instead of a boy. Oh wait, you didn't chose to be straight? Then I must be lying about choosing to be gay.