RI gay marriage supporters to celebrate Mass. court decision

RI gay marriage supporters to celebrate Mass. court decision

Monday Oct 1, 2007

Several dozen legally married same-sex couples rallied at the State House yesterday to mark the one year anniversary of Rhode Island couples being able to legally marry in neighboring Massachusetts. The gathered crowd, organized by Marriage Equality Rhode Island (MERI) and Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders (GLAD), called upon the Rhode Island Legislature to grant same-sex couples equal access to marriage, making it possible for these couples to marry in their own home state.

"There are hundreds of married same-sex couples living in Rhode Island today," said Jenn Steinfeld, Director of Marriage Equality Rhode Island. "They are your friends, your neighbors, and your co-workers. They are loving, committed couples who have pledged to spend their lives together, for better and for worse - and that’s something to celebrate. There’s no reason couples like these should have to cross the border into Massachusetts to get their wedding license. "

"Married, same-sex couples like us are already living in Rhode Island," noted Chris Butler of Pawktucket, who married his partner of eight years, R.J. Rose, last April. "The State House hasn’t fallen down, and no one else’s marriage has been harmed because RJ and I are married."

On September 29th, 2006, a Massachusetts court ruled that same-sex couples from Rhode Island could legally marry in Massachusetts because there is no explicit prohibition in Rhode Island law that prevents these marriages. This paved the way for couples like Chris and R.J. to achieve the legal recognition of their relationship they had previously been denied.

"We love to host weddings in Massachusetts, but Rhode Islanders should be able to marry in their own home state," said Michele Granda, a Staff Attorney for GLAD who represented the original plantiffs, Wendy Becker and Mary Norton of Providence, in the marriage case.

Legislation that would grant same-sex couples equal access to marriage in Rhode Island will be re-introduced in January 2008. Marriage Equality Rhode Island will continue to work for the passage of this bill in the legislature.

"There are at least 435 Rhode Island laws delineating the rights and responsibilities that are bestowed upon married couples, from protections for children of married couples to hospital visitations rights and rights of inheritance," noted Steinfeld. "These laws recognize the deep connections between spouses and make it wrong to treat them as legal strangers. Loving same-sex couples shouldn’t be denied these rights - and our legislature should do the right thing in the next session and pass equal marriage legislation."








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