MERI Blog
Updates, news, action alerts and events from Marriage Equality Rhode Island.
URGENT: Rally at the Statehouse
We aren’t backing down.
Like many of you last week, I was outraged when I found out that some of our leaders in the House decided to no longer support marriage equality and instead introduce a civil unions bill.
It was frustrating news, but we didn’t let our anger get the best of us—we took action!
Last week, MERI supporters sent over 1,000 messages to their legislators in support of the marriage bill, and over the weekend, volunteers across the state joined us at phone banks and canvasses.
And now, we’re taking it to the Statehouse. At 4:30 pm, MERI supporters will be at the Statehouse to show our legislators that we won’t settle for anything less than full marriage equality. Will you be there?
Click here if you’ll stand up for marriage equality with us at the statehouse tomorrow.
Our opponents want us to feel defeated. They want us to give up.
But now, we have the chance to prove that we won’t back down and that we won’t stop fighting until we end marriage discrimination in Rhode Island.
http://bit.ly/RallyforMarriageRI
There’s no doubt that we have a tough fight ahead of us. But with supporters like you, I know that we have what it takes to ensure that all Rhode Island families are valued and protected.
See you at the Statehouse,
Ray Sullivan
Campaign Director, MERI
MERI States Strong Opposition to Civil Unions; Expresses Disappointment in Speaker Fox
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: April 27, 2011
Contact: Bill Fischer, True North Communications
LLC Office: 401-228-8016
Cell: 401-862-4652
MERI States Strong Opposition to Civil Unions
Expresses Disappointment in Speaker Fox
Providence, RI – The Marriage Equality Rhode Island (MERI) board of directors issued a statement expressing staunch opposition to civil unions now being supported by Speaker Gordon Fox and restated their support for full marriage equality for same-sex couples in Rhode Island.
“Civil unions are unacceptable because they marginalize gay and lesbian couples in very significant ways. The General Assembly will essentially be legalizing a two-class system that subjects thousands of Rhode Island same-sex couples to discrimination. We cannot support legislation that establishes a second class of citizens in Rhode Island,” said Martha Holt, chair of MERI’s board of directors.
There are 1,138 federal laws and programs in which marriage is a factor. People in civil unions will not be eligible for these benefits or protections even if the federal Defense of Marriage Act ceases to exist.
The word marriage is itself a protection. People with civil unions need to explain themselves to emergency room personnel, relatives, school officials, and bureaucracies. People who are married do not.
“Civil unions are a compromise for no one. Advocates both for and against marriage equality have clearly expressed their opposition to the half measure of civil unions,” said Holt. “We are extremely disappointed in the lack of leadership at the State House and we would urge Speaker Fox to rethink sponsoring legislation that would create a second class of citizens.”
“Marriage Equality Rhode Island is fully entrenched and will remain in this fight until all of Rhode Island’s couples are treated equally under the law. Half measures and second-class rights will not appease us,” added Holt.
Marriage Equality Rhode Island volunteers are actively engaged throughout Rhode Island and have been for months. Volunteers are mobilized in every legislative district in Rhode Island, including those of House Speaker Fox and Senate President Paiva-Weed.
Marriage Equality Can’t Wait
In a matter of weeks, the future of marriage in Rhode Island will be decided. Your state legislators have just returned to Providence after a recess and on their list of unfinished business is ending marriage discrimination.
Over the past several months, marriage equality supporters like you have fought hard to show legislators that now is the time to protect Rhode Island families by extending marriage to all loving and committed couples.
And now, it all comes down to these final weeks of the legislative session.
Today, hundreds of pro-equality Rhode Islanders are joining nearly a dozen local and statewide organizations in contacting their legislators as a part of the Online Lobby Day for Marriage Equality. Will you join them? Click here: http://bit.ly/MarriageEqualityRI
Click here to send a message to your legislators and be a part of today’s Online Lobby Day.
Marriage equality supporters like you have fought hard to get us to this point. Now is not the time to let up.
With only a few weeks left, time is of the essence. Will you be a part of today’s statewide day of action and contact your legislators now?
http://bit.ly/MarriageEqualityRI
By adding your voice today, you’ll send an unwavering message to your elected officials that ending discrimination against Rhode Island families is simply too important to wait another day.
Thanks for all you do,
Ray Sullivan
Campaign Director, MERI
Prove NOM wrong
Our opponents, the anti-gay National Organization for Marriage, think that they’ve won.
In an email to their members last week, the New Jersey-based NOM all but claimed victory in Rhode Island, saying that “another tremendous victory is within our grasp.”
But while NOM is making unfounded claims about the state of marriage equality in Rhode Island, MERI supporters have been busy mobilizing hundreds of supporters throughout the state to contact their legislators in support of the marriage bill.
And it’s working! I’ve heard from our friends in the Assembly that many of our undecided legislators are feeling the pressure from the outpouring of MERI supporters who have taken action and demanded that all Rhode Island families are valued and respected.
You’ve created a buzz in Providence. Will you help us continue the momentum and contact your legislators now? Even if you’ve emailed them before, they need to hear from you again:
With supporters like you, I know we won’t let NOM get away with yet another harmful lie. The momentum to win the freedom to marry is truly on our side—in Rhode Island and elsewhere. Just last week, NOM’s top strategist came out in support of marriage equality because he realized that “gays and lesbians were just real people who wanted to live real lives and be treated equally.”
Hearts and minds – even some of the most adamantly opposed - are changing every day because fair-minded people like you aren’t afraid to speak out for what’s right.
Time and time again, we’ve proven our opponents wrong. And if you take action now, we’ll demonstrate once again that Rhode Islanders believe that it’s time to extend marriage to all loving and committed couples in our state.
Click here to contact your legislators now and ask them to support marriage equality.
Yours in equality,
Ray Sullivan
Campaign Director, MERI
Keep up the heat.
I’m going to cut to the chase because we don’t have much time.
The future of thousands of loving and committed couples is at stake right now. In a matter of days, our state Representatives could vote on the marriage equality bill—legislation that will ensure crucial protections and recognition for families in Rhode Island. And because of the hard work of MERI supporters like you across the state, we can win marriage equality in this legislative session. Our momentum is growing every day as more and more Rhode Islanders agree that it’s time for all families in our state to be valued and respected. But we can’t let up now.
Will you help keep up the pressure on your Representative? Click here to contact your Representative now and urge them to support marriage equality.
Since joining the Marriage Equality Rhode Island team as Campaign Director, I’ve seen firsthand that our grassroots supporters are our greatest strength. You’ve made phone calls, sent e-mails, and shared your stories – bringing us closer than ever to ending discrimination against gay and lesbian Rhode Islanders and their families. But to achieve the major legislative victory we’ve all worked so hard to ensure, your Representative needs to hear from you now. Will you make your voice heard at the statehouse? Click here to join hundreds of Marriage Equality Rhode Island supporters and urge your state Representative to do the right thing.
We’ve never been this close. And I know that together, we’ll ensure that all families in our state receive the respect and recognition they deserve.
Yours in equality,
Ray Sullivan
Campaign Director, Marriage Equality Rhode Island
PS- We launched a new Facebook last week, and already, over 1,500 marriage equality supporters have “liked” us! If you haven’t already, click here to “like” us on Facebook and share with your friends!
Warwick Mayor supports marriage equality
As originally published on March 25, 2011 by Ted Nesi at WRPI.com
Gay marriage proponents in Rhode Island have gained another high-profile supporter: Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian.
During a taping of this weekend’s edition of WPRI 12′s “Newsmakers,” the Republican told Tim White and me that he believes Rhode Island should legalize same-sex marriage.
“I look at it as a question of human rights and civil rights, so I would be in favor of that,” Avedisian told us.
We tackled a wide range of topics with the longtime mayor, from his political future and his relationship with Governor Chafee to the proposed expansion of T.F. Green. The full program will be posted online today and be televised Sunday at 10 a.m. on Fox Providence.
Speaking of the Sunday morning shows, if you were planning to watch Jack Reed talk Libya on ABC you’re out of luck – he and Rand Paul got bumped by Secretaries Clinton and Gates this afternoon.
R.I. Bar Association supports same-sex marriage bill
As originally published on March 25th in the Providence Jounral
PROVIDENCE, R.I.—The Rhode Island Bar Association announced Friday that it backs a bill that would allow same-sex couples to marry.
In a statement on its website, the association says its House of Delegates voted this week to support the bill because it “affects the administration of justice” and “promotes both an accessible and effective legal system as well as equality in the courts.“
“All of these principles are important and core values to the Rhode Island Bar Association and the legal profession as a whole,“ the group said in its message.
Marriage Equality Rhode Island, in its own statement, applauded and thanked the bar association for “lending their depth of knowledge and legal expertise to such an important matter.“
“The Rhode Island Bar Association’s support of marriage equality is further proof that efforts to extend the full protections and privileges of marriage to all Rhode Islanders is a simple matter of access to justice,“ said Martha Holt, a Marriage Equality Rhode Island board member.
RI Democrat Chairman Pacheco Supports Marriage Equality Legislation
Today, the Rhode Island Democratic Party Chairman Ed Pacheco issued the following statement reiterating his support of marriage equality in the State of Rhode Island:
“I have always felt, regardless of sexual orientation or identity, that all Americans are entitled to the full protection, benefits and resources of marriage under law. More so than that, all couples who choose to enter into the union of marriage, deserve to honor their love and commitment to each other, to their families and to the communities in which they live with the full institution and benefits of marriage.
“To deny any individual the rights and privileges of marriage based on their sexual orientation is to deny them the dignity, fairness and freedom to live their lives fully and free from anxiety – anxiety that can be avoided by ensuring marriage equality in Rhode Island. Anything less is less than equal. We take great pride in the protection of freedoms in this country and it is time for Rhode Island to stand up for our neighbors, co-workers, friends, and family in the LGBT community and pass marriage equality legislation. It’s just time.”
AFL-CIO backs same-sex marriage legislation
as originally posted on Thursday, March 24, 2011 in the Providence Journal
PROVIDENCE –– The Rhode Island AFL-CIO executive board has, for the first time, voted to endorse legislation that would allow same-sex couples to marry in the state.
The announcement came the same day as Marriage Equality Rhode Island, a gay-marriage advocacy group, said that the Newport Democratic City Committee had voted recently to endorse gay-marriage legislation.
The committee represents Democrats in the hometown of Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed, a Democrat who is opposed to gay marriage. It is chaired by J. Clement “Bud” Cicilline, a former state senator and uncle of openly gay U.S. Rep. David N. Cicilline.
Rhode Island AFL-CIO President George Nee called the discussion of same-sex marriage a “fundamental civil-rights issue.”
He cited a 2004 General Accounting Office report that showed that there are 1,138 federal civil statutory rights and responsibilities associated with the word “marriage” to which Rhode Island same-sex couples are now denied.
The vote to support Senate bill S-0029 and House bill H-5012 took place at the March executive board meeting, according to a news release from the union.
Nee said about 40 members of the executive board attended the meeting and of those who voted, none voted against the statement of support for same-sex marriage.
The Rhode Island AFL-CIO serves as the umbrella organization for more than 250 local unions and represents more than 80,000 workers in the state.
Senate Judiciary Hearings - Thursday, March 10, 2011
The Senate Judiciary committee will hear the marriage equality bills on Thursday, March 10, Room 313, approximately 5p.
We ask all marriage supporters to wear RED as a show of solidarity.
You can submit your entire testimony in writing, which will be distributed to the committee members. Put the bill number on your testimony, your name, address and any additional contact information you are comfortable giving (phone, email). Bring 10 copies for the committee members. You can give your copies to the committee clerk, Robert Ricci, during the hearing or any time before or after the hearing.
SCHEDULED FOR HEARING ONLY
Senate Bill No. 0029
BY Perry, Sosnowski, Miller, Pichardo, Nesselbush
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO DOMESTIC RELATIONS—PERSONS ELIGIBLE TO MARRY {LC117} (would broaden the definition of persons eligible to marry to include persons of the same gender. This act would also provide that members of the clergy would not be required to officiate at any particular marriage)
Senate Resolution No. 0115
BY Ciccone, Walaska, Bates, DiPalma, O`Neill E
ENTITLED, JOINT RESOLUTION TO APPROVE AND PUBLISH AND SUBMIT TO THE ELECTORS A PROPOSITION OF AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE (MARRIAGE) {LC580} (Marriage = one man + one woman; Civil Unions = same sex couples)
Senate Resolution No. 0162
BY Tassoni, Cote, Maher, Pinga
ENTITLED, JOINT RESOLUTION TO APPROVE AND PUBLISH AND SUBMIT TO THE ELECTORS A PROPOSITION OF AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE (MARRIAGE) {LC401} (Marriage = one man + one woman)
Senate Bill No. 0376
BY Hodgson
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO DOMESTIC RELATIONS—DOMESTIC UNIONS {LC1413} (creates a statutory right to enter into domestic unions)
Senate Bill No. 0377
BY DiPalma, Goodwin, Ruggerio, Ottiano, O`Neill E
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO DOMESTIC RELATIONS {LC318} (would authorize the establishment of reciprocal beneficiary agreements for the purpose of permitting any two (2) unmarried persons who are excluded from entering into a valid marriage under the marriage laws of this state)
As a general rule:
Oral testimony should be about one to three minutes long. The committee chair will set the time parameters for testifying. You can submit your entire testimony in writing, which will be distributed to the committee members. Put the bill number on your testimony.
Front-load your comments. Put the most important points first (you can never be sure how long you will have the legislators’ attention).
Speak as personally as you can. Reminding the committee members that the legislation impacts real lives every day is crucial.
Stay positive. Speak with generosity and assume that the world is on your side. Certainly, the most valuable and persuasive voice is your own. Speak your truth from your heart, with clarity and compassion, and you will move mountains.
SOME BASICS
Where are the hearings?
At the State House in Providence. You must enter the State House at the Smith Street (north) entrance and go through security. Allow time for this process.
The Senate Judiciary committee will meet in Room 313.
Hearings will be set at the rise. This means immediately following the full session, which starts at 4pm. Hearings usually start by 5p. If you would like a seat in the hearing room, you need to get to the State House early, no later than 3pm.
At the hearing, there will be a sign-in sheet with the bill number on it. If you are going to present testimony to the committee, you must sign-in and indicate whether you are speaking for (pro) or against (con) the legislation.
Hearings can last a long time. It isn’t unusual to be finishing up around midnight.
Where do I park?
There is metered street parking around the State House, so you will need quarters. The parking lots opposite the State House, north of Smith Street behind the Department of Health and Department of Administration buildings, usually open up after the employees leave for the day. There is also parking at Providence Place Mall, but you will need to walk up the hill to the Smith Street entrance.
Special access needs.
Enter the legislator parking lot, which is the first lot just east of the State House off Smith Street, and you will see the entrance to your right. You will go through security, then head down the hall and take the elevator to the second or third floor.
— recently posted —
MERI lauds Gov. Chafee’s historic move to recognize RI’s same-sex marriages
posted 2 days, 15 hours, 50 minutes ago
— your neighbors —
Greg Lisby of Providence supports marriage equality. Meet Greg and other real Rhode Islanders in our Friends & Neighbors gallery.
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event details
Location: Thursday, March 10, 2011