MERI Blog
Updates, news, action alerts and events from Marriage Equality Rhode Island.
Comic Duck Bowl Tournament - This Saturday!
Marriage Equality Rhode Island (MERI) and the Renaissance City Softball League (RCSL) will host Cosmic Duck Cup Bowling on Saturday, April 18 from 9:30-midnight at Town Hall Lanes in Johnston, RI.
According to Jonathan Ricci, RCSL Commissioner, “This year the League is making an extra effort to reach out to partners in the GLBT community. We’re delighted to partner with MERI for this first event and invite all friends and allies to support our joint endeavor.”
Cosmic bowling includes music and special galaxy lighting. The bar will be open for beverages and food. Tickets to the event are $15 in advance, $20 at the door and includes 3 games and shoe rental. Teams of up to 5 persons can reserve a lane in advance. Lane sponsorship by businesses or supportive organizations cost $50 and includes banner placement and announcements during the evening. Raffle prizes will be drawn and winners will receive the Cosmic Duck Cup trophy. Singles and spectators welcome.
Purchase tickets online with VISA/Master Card.
Proceeds benefit Marriage Equality Rhode Island, an organization that demands recognition for same-sex couples in Rhode Island who deserve the legal protections and safeguards gained through civil marriage.
The Renaissance City Softball League (RCSL) is a registered 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to the growth and promotion of softball in the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered (GLBT) community in Rhode Island and surrounding areas. RCSL games are played at the Agawam Softball Complex & Pierce Memorial Stadium in East Providence. Opening day is Sunday, May 10th at noon.
For more information, email Kathy Kushnir.
Townhall Tuesday - Starting Next Week
Join Marriage Equality Rhode Island (MERI) in looking forward to the future of marriage equality in the Ocean State. MERI is hosting five “Town Hall Tuesday” events across the state throughout April and May to share our plan to achieve marriage equality in Rhode Island. Join us to learn about our plan for 2011, ask questions, offer feedback, and find out how to get involved!
The “Town Hall Tuesday” sessions will be held in Woonsocket, Providence, Kingston, Newport and Warwick/Cranston.
All events will occur between 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. and include light refreshments.
Tuesday, April 14: Warwick/Cranston
NEARI Building, 99 Bald Hill Rd, Cranston
Tuesday, April 21: Kingston
URI Memorial Union, Atrium 2, Kingston
Tuesday, May 5: Providence
Bell St. Chapel, Bell St., UU Church, Providence
Other dates and locations to be announced soon.
Iowa Gov. Culver’s Statement on Supreme Court Decision
Bravo Gov. Culver!
DES MOINES – Governor Chet Culver today issued the following statement after reviewing the Iowa Supreme Court’s decision in Varnum v. Brien:
“I have carefully reviewed the Iowa Supreme Court’s unanimous decision on civil marriage and discussed it with the Attorney General.
“Let me begin by saying that I recognize that the issue of same-gender civil marriage is one that evokes strongly held beliefs and strong emotions both for and against. These beliefs and feelings need to be respected. I hope that the views of those on all sides will be treated respectfully and will not be subjected to name-calling or fear-mongering, but instead will lead to rational discussion.
“At the outset, I want to emphasize that the question before the Iowa Supreme Court was one of civil marriage only – a state-recognized legal status constituting a civil contract. Civil marriage always has been, and will continue to be, separate from religious marriage that takes place in churches and places of worship.
“As I have stated before, I personally believe that marriage is between a man and a woman. This is a tenet of my personal faith. The Iowa Supreme Court’s decision has, in fact, reaffirmed that churches across Iowa will continue to have the right to recognize the sanctity of religious marriage in accordance with their own traditions and church doctrines. The Supreme Court’s decision does not require that churches recognize marriages between persons of the same gender or officiate over such unions. The Court does not have, nor should any court ever have, that kind of power over our religious lives. Our churches and places of worship are free to decide for themselves, as they were before, who may enter the sacred covenant of marriage. As the Supreme Court’s decision states, ‘The sanctity of all religious marriages celebrated in the future will have the same meaning as those celebrated in the past.’
“Yet, the Supreme Court of Iowa, in a unanimous decision, has clearly stated that the Constitution of our state, which guarantees equal protection of the law to all Iowans, requires the State of Iowa to recognize the civil marriage contract of two people of the same gender. The Court also concluded that the denial of this right constitutes discrimination. Therefore, after careful consideration and a thorough reading of the Court’s decision, I am reluctant to support amending the Iowa Constitution to add a provision that our Supreme Court has said is unlawful and discriminatory.
“As Governor, I must respect the authority of the Iowa Supreme Court, and have a duty to uphold the Constitution of the State of Iowa. I also fully respect the right of all Iowans to live under the full protection of Iowa’s Constitution.
“I urge Iowans who hold beliefs on all sides of this issue to exhibit respect and good will. Our state faces many serious challenges. We are in the midst of a serious economic recession. Tens of thousands of our fellow Iowans are without work. We have suffered the worst natural disasters and most difficult recovery our state has ever faced. We must join together and redouble our efforts to work toward solutions that will help Iowans in this time of uncertainty. That is where, I believe, my focus and energies should lie.
“Let us not lose sight of the fact that we are all Iowans, all neighbors, united in the promise and faith of a brighter future for our state. Let us all work together toward that common goal.”
D.C. Council Votes to Accept Other States’ Gay Marriages
The D.C. Council has voted to recognize gay marriages performed in other states on the same day that Vermont became the fourth state to legalize same-sex unions.
Domestic partnerships already are legal in the nation’s capital, and gay couples married in other states are recognized as domestic partners when they move the city. But today’s legislation, billed as an important milestone in gay rights, explicitly recognizes them as married couples.
The initial vote was 12-0. The unanimous vote sets the stage for future debate on legalizing gay marriage in the District—and a clash with Congress, which approves the city’s laws under Home Rule. The council is expected to take a final vote on the legislation next month.
Marriage Equality in VT!! Gov. Veto Overridden!
The Vermont Senate voted by a 23-5 margin to override Governor Douglas’ veto.
The Vermont House voted by a 100-49 margin to override Governor Douglas’ veto.
The veto has been overridden!!! Congratulations Vermont!!!
VT Senate Votes to Override Gov. Veto
The Senate took about 10 minutes to override Gov. Douglas’ veto. The vote was 23-5.
The Senate then voted to suspend its rules and message the bill over to the House.
House vote in process…
VT Gov. Vetos & Veto Override Vote Happening this Morning
Listen to the Veto Override Session on VT Public Radio
from the Burlington Free Press:
MONTPELIER — Gov. Jim Douglas vetoed same-sex marriage legislation Monday evening, sending the bill back to the Legislature today, where the votes to override the veto could teeter either way.
Douglas delivered the veto message swiftly, as promised. His veto message was waiting when the bill arrived from the Senate about 5:35 p.m.
The House and Senate are expected to vote today on whether to override. Whether supporters of the legislation can reach the two-thirds majority in the House is a looming question.
“I’m still talking to members and we’re working toward a number that’s two-thirds,” House Speaker Shap Smith, D-Morristown, said at 6 p.m. Monday.
This Week’s Statehouse Hearings
Tuesday Night, April 7th
Senate Judiciary, Room 313, at the rise
Funeral Planning Bill (S0195)
Sponsored by Sen. Perry, Jabour, Miller, C Levesque, and Pichardo
The bill adds “domestic partner” for the purpose of granting authority to domestic partners of deceased for funeral arrangements.
Reciprocal Beneficiary Agreements Bill (S135)
Sponsored by Sen. Blais
The bill to authorize reciprocal beneficiary agreements. These agreements permit two unmarried people who cannot otherwise enter into civil marriage and who meet specified requirements, to extend limited specific rights to another: such as some health care insurance benefits, medical authorizations, and property and estate rights. This type of legislation has been enacted in other states and shown repeatedly to fall short of the rights and protections that same-sex couples need.
Tuesday Night, April 7th
House Judiciary, Room 205, at the rise
Funeral Planning Bill (H5294)
Sponsored by Rep. Segal, Edwards, Sullivan, and Fierro
Bill adds “domestic partner” for the purpose of granting authority to domestic partners of deceased for funeral arrangements.
Crimes of Bigotry and Bias (H5432)
Sponsored by Rep. Ajello, Walsh, Handy, A Rice, and Segal
Bill defines “hate crime” to include sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.
Wednesday Night, April 8th
House Judiciary, Room 313, at the rise
Family Court Access (Divorce Bill) (H5926)
Sponsored Rep. Fox, Ferri, Ajello, and Williamson
Act would allow couples to divorce in RI, whether or not they would have been eligible to marry in RI, so long as the marriage is recognized elsewhere and the parties meet the requirements for a divorce in RI.
Join Rick in Your Town to Support Marriage Equality
For the past three summers, Rick Harris, Executive Director of the National Association of Social Workers - Rhode Island Chapter (NASW - RI), has been bicycling around New England on behalf of Marriage Equality. He has traveled over 2400 miles, has collected 1445 signatures on a Traveling Proclamation for Civil Marriage, and visited all state houses in New England, as well those in New Jersey and New York. During these travels he has spoken directly to thousands of individuals about the merits of Civil Marriage as a Civil Right.
Harris will ride to several city halls around Rhode Island to solicit signatures and speak to whoever is willing to take a second to talk.
Harris states: “The wonderful thing about America is that basic civil rights are guaranteed. Although it may take a long time, these rights can be won in various ways through court actions, legislatively or by executive order. In Rhode Island, we hope to win marriage equality rights through legislative action. Massachusetts, Connecticut and Iowa have all gained this basic human right, which ensures that couples who love and respect each other can be married regardless of gender. Rhode Island now recognizes those marriages and it’s just a matter of time before same gender couples will be able to marry in Rhode Island also. This basic human right will be won community by community, state by state, region by region, until all American loving couples, regardless of where they live, will be free to marry.”
The schedule for the rides will be as follows:
(Rides will be rain or shine safety permitting.)
April 7
Woonsocket City Hall: 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Pawtucket City Hall: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Providence City Hall: 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
April 14
Newport City Hall: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
April 21
West Warwick City Hall: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Warwick City Hall: 2:00 PM 3:30 PM
April 28
Westerly City Hall: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Sweden Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage
(Advocate.com) Sweden became the seventh country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide after a six-hour debate on Wednesday among parliament members.
All but one of the seven parties in the parliament, ruled by a center-right coalition, backed the legislation, which garnered a 261 to 22 vote, and 16 abstentions, according to the Associated Press.
Gender-neutral marriage licenses will begin to be issued starting May 1, replacing a civil union option that has been offered since 1995. Religious institutions will not be compelled to perform ceremonies for gay and lesbian couples. A majority of bishops in the Church of Sweden said that churches should not be allowed the task of handling legal registrations of marriages.
The Netherlands, Norway, Belgium, Spain, Canada, and South Africa already allow same-sex marriage.
— recently posted —
Rhode Islanders Overwhelmingly Support Marriage Equality
posted 2 weeks, 5 days, 15 hours, 15 minutes ago
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event details
Date: April 18, 2009, 9:30pm – 12am
Location: Town Hall Lanes in Johnston, RI
Price: $15 in advance / $20 at the door