Two days after Governor Lincoln Chafee called on legislators to swiftly legalize same-sex marriage, a pair of lawmakers say they will introduce bills to do just that.Thank you to Gov. Chafee, who in part used his inaugural speech to ask the citizens of Rhode Island to reaffirm Roger Williams’ vision of a “civil state” – including that “a civil state means that personal freedoms are protected, different orientations are respected, and the dignity of all citizens is enshrined in both the law and in everyday practice.”
Representative Art Handy, Democrat of Cranston, and Senator Rhoda Perry, Democrat of Providence, said yesterday that they would reintroduce bills to legalize same-sex marriage. The bills died last year in the House and Senate.
The legislation has been introduced several times in recent years, but failed as it faced opposition from Governor Donald L. Carcieri, a Republican, and previous legislative leaders. Democrat Gordon Fox, who is openly gay and a cosponsor of the bill, became House speaker last year.
And Gov. Chafee reminded us that last November, the great state of Rhode did indeed show the nation what a civil state can mean: Providence elected a Dominican-American Mayor in Angel Taveras. An openly gay man, David Cicilline, now represents Rhode Island’s 1st Congressional District. And the 2nd Congressional District returned Jim Langevin to Washington, the first quadriplegic ever to serve in the House.
Now, here’s to hoping that in the marriage equality arena, Rhode Island will catch up with New England neighbors Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont and New Hampshire!
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