Friday, May 3, 2013
A bill legalizing same-sex marriage passed 56-15.
About 16 years after legislation was initially introduced in Rhode Island, same-sex marriage is now legal in the Ocean State. On Thursday afternoon, the Rhode Island House of Representatives passed the legislation with a vote of 56-15, which follows approval in the Senate. "This is a great day in Rhode Island, not just for the many Rhode Island families who will now get the recognition and equality that they so richly deserve, and not only for the thousands who have been fighting for decades for the dignity and rights of all citizens," said House Speaker Gordon Fox, the first openly gay House Speaker in the nation who has cosponsored the legislation every year. "It is also a wonderful day for the generations of future Rhode Islanders who …
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
With the Senate's approval, the bill now goes to Governor Lincoln Chafee for his signature.
In a 26-12 vote, the Rhode Island Senate on Wednesday approved a bill that would allow same-sex marriage in the state, the last in New England to approve such a measure. The House of Representatives voted 51-19 on Jan. 25 to approve that chamber's version of the bill; the legislation now goes to Gov. Lincoln Chafee, who has pledged his support. With Senate President Teresa Paiva-Weed's announcement of the vote count at 5:45 pm, Rhode Island moved one step closer to allowing gay couples to marry. Sen. Donna Nesselbush (D-Pawtucket, North Providence), the lead sponsor of the bill and only openly gay member of the chamber, called the vote a "historic moment" that was "designed to undo years of discrimination" against same-sex couples. "The …
Saturday, March 30, 2013
The Coventry senator says he hasn’t made a “firm decision” yet on voting to allow SSM legislation to be voted on by the full Senate.
State Sen. Lou Raptakis (D-Coventry, E.G., W.W.) has removed his name as a sponsor of legislation to hold a referendum on same sex marriage, but he’s stopped short of saying he will definitely support allowing a bill legalizing same sex marriage to be voted on by the full Senate. Raptakis is one of ten members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, the panel in control of the legislation right now. Senate Bill 708, sponsored by Sen. Frank A. Ciccone III (D-Providence), would put a referendum before voters, asking if they want to legalize same-sex marriage by adding language to the state Constitution that defines marriage as "the legally-recognized union of two people." Senate Bill 38, sponsored by Sen. Donna M. Nesselbush (D-Pawtucket), would …
Friday, March 22, 2013
Senator Dawson Hodgson speaks out in favor of same-sex marriage at hearings Thursday night.
By midnight Thursday, people were still testifying for and against the same-sex marriage legislation (S-38) before the state Senate Judiciary Committee. More than 600 people signed up to testify and in groups of four they were called up. Both of East Greenwich's state senators sit on the Judiciary Committee. Sen. Dawson Hodgson (R-E.G., N.K., S.K., Narr.), early on spoke out in favor of the legislation: "If Rhode Islanders truly believe in family values, we need to value all families." To the comments from some that the legislation harms marriage, Hodgson said, "No matter what this committee does, it won't touch your marriage. That's one of the nice things about the separation of church and state." Sen. Lou Raptakis (D-Coventry, E.G., W.W…
Monday, February 4, 2013
Senator Dawson Hodgson decries the Senate's "lack of urgency" when it comes to voting on same sex marriage and other bills.
One month into the General Assembly's 2013 session, things haven't changed very much from this point two years ago, according to Sen. Dawson Hodgson (R-Dist. 35). "We’re about a month in, we’ve only had one or two calendars since inauguration day," Hodgson said, referring to days in which there's formal action on a bill. "This is the time of year when we show up and there’s no bill pending, there’s no votes ... on state business." Hodgson said inaction on same-sex marriage is one reason for the Senate's seeming "lack of urgency." "Whether you support same sex marriage or oppose it … these are deeply held motiviations and they are profound on both sides. For my colleagues who are deeply engaged on this issue on both sides, they deserve to …
Robert E
1:34 pm on Wednesday, May 8, 2013
The term means Christ-like and should describe everyone who wears the name. So-called Christians totally abandoned the most fundamental teaching of Jesus: do unto others as you would have them do unto you. A teaching so simple, yet, so profound. Every time you criticize someone on here you are criticizing Jesus himself you are telling your god what a horrible Christian you really are. “Then he … more ›