MERI 2006 History

Marriage Equality Action Teams. Teams met with their legislators in Warwick and South County. These successful meetings brought constituents together and grew support for marriage equality in Rhode Island. Additional groups being formed.

Bowling for Marriage Equality. Town Hall Lanes Fundraiser was a fun family day with all proceeds going to support marriage equality in Rhode Island. MERI thanks Town Hall Lanes in Johnston!

Bill Introduction. Marriage equality bills were introduced at the State House with a press conference. There is a bill in the RI Senate and the House. An anti-marriage equality bill was submitted in the RI Senate (Senate Bill  No. 2310), which would prohibit same sex marriages in the state and would prohibit the state from recognizing a relationship between persons of the same sex as a marriage.

MERI on TV. MERI Cochairs Frank Ferri and Jenn Steinfeld discussed equal marriage rights for the GLBT community on RI Soapbox on Cox Cable channel 13.

Providence Black Repertory Company Fundraiser. Play was Yellowman, by Dael Orlandersmith - A 2002 Pulitzer Prize Finalist, directed by Don Mays. A pre-show reception was held. Marriage Equality RI thanks: The Providence Black Repertory Company, 276 Westminster Street, Providence, Rhode Island 02903.

500 Attend State House Rally. On Valentine's Day, Feb. 14, 500 people come out to support marriage equality. There are speeches, singing and music, and politicians running for U.S. Senate working the crowd.

Hearing held 4-to-1 in support of marriage equality. On April 5, more than 80 people speak before a House Judiciary Committee hearing. The hearing runs for five hours and the support for marriage equality is huge.

MERI demands respect from House Speaker William Murphy. On April 10, more than a dozen supports join a MERI press conference calling on Speaker Murphy to allow a vote in the House Judiciary Committee. A giant sheet filled with more than 500 hand-written names is delivered to Murphy's office.

Calls, Calls, Calls. Throughout the beginning of April, Speaker Williams office and Representative Lally, chair of the House Judiciary Committee are flooded with calls from people demanding a vote.

Lobbying every Wednesday. MERI sponsors lobbying legislators every Wednesday throughout the session.

Game Playing at the State House. In protest of the political games going on at the State House which are keeping the marriage equality bill from getting a vote, about 100 people play board games such as Sorry, Chutes and Ladders, and Clue in the State House. At 8:45 pm, the group is asked to leave and about 75 people do so.

Mailing to MERI supporters. In mid-April, MERI does a mailing to more than 4,000 people about what has happened and what the coming weeks will require to support marriage equality.