MERI 2005 History

Name change. The group changes from the Campaign for Marriage Equality to Marriage Equality RI to better focus our name on our goal.

          Marriage Equality RI
                   CIVIL SOCIETY, CIVIL MARRIAGE, CIVIL RIGHTS

Marriage equality bills introduced in the RI House and Senate. Introduced around Valentine’s Day, 2005. At this point, no “Defense of Marriage Act” (DOMA) bills have been submitted but Senator Leo Blais tells the press he will submit one. On the house side, Victor Moffit, who introduced a DOMA in 2004 has decided not to be a sponsor in 2005, saying, in part, that he didn’t like being viewed as someone who discriminates and has other issues he wants to focus on.

Press Conference on bills. Feb. 15: Marriage Equality RI holds a successful press conference to introduce the bills to the media. More than 100 people come out to support marriage equality. They hold signs saying: “Love doesn’t discriminate … and neither should RI” and couples hold hearts with the number of years they have been together. Several long-term couples – 30 years, 24 years, 10 years – take part. Marriage Equality RI hands out “wedding favors” to thank those who attended. The press conference was very successful with all three television stations, three radio stations and half a dozen print media in attendance.

Providence Journal photo by Connie Grosch
of MERI Press Conference

Photo by Susan M. Gale for MERI

Nearly Double bill sponsors. Within an hour of the press conference, the marriage equality bill in the RI House has 21 sponsors – almost double the number of sponsors from the previous year when there were 11 sponsors.

New website. In February, MERI puts up our newly-designed website: MarriageEqualityRI.org. In addition, a new email becomes available: info@MarriageEqualityRI.org.

Picture Equality. By February, our photo petition, Picture Equality, has about 800 photos! Picture Equality’s set-up is re-designed so that it’s even more powerful.

First publicity materials. In mid-February, MERI gets its first publicity materials - bumper stickers and magnets.

 

 

Community Meeting. On Feb. 26, MERI holds its first Community Meeting of 2005. The Providence-based meeting brings in many new people who are eager to work on marriage equality.

Community Meeting. On March 5, MERI holds its second Community Meeting of 2005 in South County. About 40 people new to marriage equality have a productive meeting. A group is formed to continue meeting about marriage equality in South County. For information about joining this group, contact info@MarriageEqualityRI.org.

Community Meeting. The March 12 Community Meeting in Portsmouth is snowed out. The location of the meeting closed but nine people still arrived and several more called. MERI reschedules for March 22 and holds the meeting.

Rally at the State House. On April 12, MERI holds a successful rally in support of marriage equality. More than 300 supporters come to the RI State House where a variety of speakers talk - from religious to political leaders to gay and lesbian couples.

Photo by Jef Nickerson for MERI

Trinity Rep. Fundraiser. Many people joined MERI at Trinity Rep on Saturday, April 16th at 8 pm for a once in a lifetime opportunity to witness the world premiere of a new musical: Charles Strouse's You Never Know at Trinity Rep. This new musical has an award-winning pedigree with music and lyrics by Tony and Grammy Award-winning composer Charles Strouse.  A love letter to the great American musical from the composer of Bye Bye Birdie, Annie, and Applause, Charles Strouse's You Never Know is a multi-layered story within an irresistible blend of romance and suspense. 

State House Hearings on marriage equality bills. On May 17 and 18, successful hearings were held before the RI Senate and RI House Judiciary Committees. Testifiers were 3-to1 in favor of marriage equality! The House Judiciary Committee meeting lasted until 11:30 pm. Testifiers were 3 to 1 in favor of marriage equality! Here are the final scores from the Hearings:

RI Senate Judiciary Committee, Bill S-217
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
38 testified, 28 supported, 10 opposed

RI House Judiciary Committee, Bill H-5660
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
65 testified, 50 supported, 15 opposed

On May 23, a successful celebration was held: Winning Equality:  A Decade of Civil Rights Successes in conjunction with GLAD. Held from 5:30-8 at the Hi-Hat in Davol Square, Providence. The event celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the of the inclusion of sexual orientation and the fourth anniversary of the inclusion of gender identity in the state’s civil rights law. Click here to see photos: Decade of Success photos.

On Sunday June 12, Bell Street Chapel holds a "Bell Ringing for Marriage Equality" from 12:30-1PM. In front of the Rhode Island State House at the head of Francis Street, adjacent to Providence Place Mall, people rang bells. Contact for this event was: Rev. Steve Landale, (401) 273-5678, email at contact@bellstreetchapel.org

Also in June, hundreds of letters are sent out to neighborhoods around RI, educating folks on marriage equality. And lobbying continued at the State House.

Work slows down in the summer but MERI keeps pushing ahead, moving towards our target of organizing in RI districts to get more people involved.

Marriage Equality Action Teams Formed. Groups of residents meet in their communities in Warwick and South County to plan meetings with legislators. The meetings happen in the end of 2005 and early 2006. The Action Teams are successful at growing support for marriage equality in RI. Additional Action Teams are planned into 2006.