Today, the Rhode Island Senate approved legislation that would end a ban against the marriage of same-sex couples in the state.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives approved a similar bill in January. The Senate’s version will return to the House sometime next week before it is sent to Governor Lincoln Chafee, who has promised to sign the bill.
The passage of the bill means all six of New England’s states will have legalized gay marriage, leading the nation in equality. Additionally, Rhode Island will become the tenth state (plus the District of Columbia) to legalize same-sex marriage.
“New England is now complete,” Marc Solomon, national campaign director for Freedom to Marry, said in a statement. “Through court rulings, legislative action, and wins at the ballot, loving and committed couples from Bangor to Burlington, Providence to Portland, and Cambridge to Concord will soon be able to join in the freedom to marry.”
Dakotahgeo
FANNNNNNNNTASTIC!!! The RRR (radical religious right), i.e. NOM, must be going through their Depnds like water through a screen door on a submarine about now. This ‘Equality Train’ isn’t going to stop for anybody any more, much less globally.
Volvoguy
Amazing amazing, now if we get red neck va. on board.
Maybe sooner than we think, we!ll see.
Taliaferro
This is excellent news! I wish Virginia’s legislature was as enlightened at the New England states’ are. Virginia led the fight for Independence, why can she not at least join in this?
DOFEK
VIVA Rhodes, may be my fucking state Arizona, will come to that one day!. GOD heat white Christian republican and, so do I. AdamHomo
jwrappaport
@DOFEK: I’m an Arizonan too! Where from?