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 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.
©365Gay.com 2008
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