MERI Blog
Updates, news, action alerts and events from Marriage Equality Rhode Island.
PEAC Coalition Meeting
The Providence Equality Action Committee (PEAC) will meet on Tuesday, November 17th, at 7p.m., at Bell Street Chapel, 5 Bell Street, Providence.
Questions contact: .
Get on the Bus for Equality: Buy Tickets for National Equality March Today!
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Join the Providence Equality Action Committee and Marriage Equality Rhode Island in Washington DC for the National Equality March. We will be taking buses from Providence to DC to attend the march.
Tickets are no longer available. Thank you all those who purchased a seat!!
National Equality March
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Washington, DC
Depart: Oct. 10th at 11pm
Return: Oct. 12th
Please bring a copy of your payment confirmation from PayPal with you when you meet the bus.
Vowing to be Treated Equally Action - Aug. 16, 5pm
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Vowing to be Treated Equally
The Community Responds to NOM’s Agenda of Exclusion
Warwick, RI: While members of the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) are “renewing their vows” of marriage in the Aldrich Mansion, individuals supporting equal marriage rights for all Rhode Islanders will gather across the street on Sunday afternoon at 5 p.m. to recite their own vows to be treated equally under the laws of the State of Rhode Island. Their vows will coincide with the marriage vows being taken inside the Mansion—those specifically written for heterosexual couples only.
Equality supporters will attend this protest and vow, among others things, to continue the battle for full constitutional rights in RI for all gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people, and to fight the imposition of religious doctrine on the laws of our state.
Organized by the Providence Equality Action Committee (PEAC), this action is designed to highlight the exclusionary mission of NOM.
“The organization is dedicated to marriage discrimination,” states Kathy J. Kushnir, executive director of Marriage Equality Rhode Island, working with PEAC on issues of social justice relating to marriage equality. “NOM is organized and operated daily to deny same-sex couples of Rhode Island the rights, protections, responsibilities and recognition that only marriage can provide. We want people to understand what NOM really stands for.”
While NOM celebrates marriage exclusion in the Mansion, equality advocates will work for full inclusion. “Separate treatment is never equal treatment,” states PEAC member Ken Fish. “The time for full equality is now.”
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The Providence Equality Action Committee unites community organizations and individuals in the fight for LGBT rights and equality.
URGENT: CALLS to Fox today
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The session is not over.
We need CALLS to Rep. Gordon Fox, the primary sponsor of the divorce bill, H5926, at 222-2447.
PASS THE DIVORCE BILL TODAY.
Pass the Divorce Bill - Contact House Representatives TODAY!
It’s the last week of session and together we can get the divorce bill passed! Contact the House Leadership and Judiciary Committees TODAY!
TELL THEM ITS TIME TO PASS THE DIVORCE BILL (H5926)
We need everyone to CALL and EMAIL TODAY.
HOUSE LEADERSHIP (click on Rep’s name to email)
Speaker William Murphy (D, Dist.26)
phone: 401.222.2466
Majority Leader Gordon Fox (D, Dist. 4)
phone: 401.222.2447
Primary Bill Sponsor
Minority Leader Robert Watson (R, Dist. 30)
phone: 401.222.2259
Email the Entire House Leadership
HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE (click on Rep’s name to email)
Rep. Donald Lally Jr. (Chair) (D., Dist. 33)
phone: 401.792.9090
Rep. J. Patrick O’Neill (Co-Vice Chair) (D., Dist. 59)
phone: 401.475.0265
Rep. Timothy Williamson (Co-Vice Chair) (D., Dist. 25)
phone: 401.823.9200
Rep. Edith Ajello (D., Dist. 3)
phone: 401.274.7078
Rep. Jon Brien (D., Dist. 50)
phone: 401.766.9887
Rep. Roberto DaSilva (D., Dist. 63)
phone: 401.569.3593
Rep. John DeSimone (D., Dist. 5)
phone: 401.351.7373
Rep. Rodney Driver (D., Dist. 39)
phone: 401.539.7985
Rep. Peter Martin (D., Dist. 75)
phone: 401.924.2402
Rep. Brian Newberry (R., Dist. 48)
phone: 401.765.1069
Rep. Peter Palumbo (D., Dist. 16)
phone: 401.785.2882
Rep. Scott Pollard (D., Dist. 40)
phone: 401.222.2466
Rep. Amy Rice (D., Dist 72)
phone: 401.841.0505
Rep. David Segal (D., Dist. 2)
phone: 401.432.7049
Rep. Raymond Sullivan Jr. (D., Dist. 29)
phone: 401.828.9207
Email The Entire House Judiciary Committee
CALL and EMAIL your legislators TODAY and say:
NOW is the time to bring equal access to the courts for all Rhode Islanders. I am your constituent. Vote NOW to pass the divorce bill H5926.
Happy Rhode Island Pride
Happy Pride Everyone!
Stop by the MERI booth at the festival. We will be collecting postcards and signatures in support of marriage equality all day.
Additionally, show your support by walking with MERI in the Illuminated Pride Parade. We will be gathering in the parade staging area (around the Statehouse) at approximately 8:15pm. Look for the teal MERI banners. If you miss us in the staging area, feel free to join the group as we walk the parade route through downtown Providence. We hope to make this year, the largest contingent to ever march in the parade for equal marriage.
Organizing Meeting
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Join us to help build the movement for marriage equality and LGBT rights.
Same-sex divorce hearing June 3
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This just in! Tomorrow night, June 3, is the hearing for House Bill No. 5926 (the same-sex divorce bill.)
Testify and let your voice be heard on this issue of equality.
Logistics: Enter through security at the main entrance on Smith Street. Limited meter parking is available on the street, but you may also park behind the Dept Health/Dept Administration buildings and walk across Smith Street. Take the elevator to the third floor, turn left to the end of the hallway, Room 313.
Handicapped Accessibility: Enter through legislative parking lot just east of the State House on Smith Street, through the sub-basement door, take the elevator to the third floor, turn left to the end of the hallway, Room 313.
Rally at the Statehouse, June 6th
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MERI, in conjunction with Rep. Ferri and other pro-marriage equality organizations, will be hosting a rally at the RI Statehouse on Saturday, June 6th.
Continue to check this space and our facebook page for details as the become available.
DETAILS:
Date: Saturday, June 6
Location: Rhode Island Statehouse
Time: 12pm
Senate Judicary Committee to Hear Divorce Bill Thursday
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The Senate Judiciary Committee will hear the divorce bill, Senate Bill No. 0271, this Thursday May 21st.
The bill is sponsored by Senators Lynch, Connors, Levesque, Miller, and Perry.
Additionally, the funeral planning bill (S0195) will likely be up for a vote. The bill, sponsored by Senators Perry, Jabour, Miller, Levesque, and Pichardo. The bill would define “domestic partner” for the purpose of granting authority to domestic partners of deceased for funeral arrangements of deceased.
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Join us at your STATE HOUSE for a MARRIAGE EQUALITY RALLY Wednesday, March 3rd, 4p
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event details
Date: November 17, 2009, 7PM
Location: Bell Street Chapel, 5 Bell Street, Providence