MERI Blog
Updates, news, action alerts and events from Marriage Equality Rhode Island.
Rhode Islanders Overwhelmingly Support Marriage Equality
Read the poll resultsFor Immediate Release
Aug. 18, 2010
Contact: Kathy Kushnir, executive director
Marriage Equality Rhode Island
(401) 941-2727
Poll: Majority Supports Marriage Equality in Rhode Island
59 percent support cuts across age, religion, political affiliation
Results of a new poll show that 59 percent of Rhode Island voters support allowing same-sex couples to legally marry in the state. This marks the first time a majority of voters voiced support for marriage equality since advocates began polling on the issue in 2006, and represents a 10 percent increase in support from the last poll conducted in 2008.
“This poll makes clear that we are ready to enact a marriage equality law in Rhode Island now,” said Kathy Kushnir, executive director of Marriage Equality Rhode Island (MERI). “Rhode Islanders are ready to allow loving, committed same-sex couples to gain the dignity, respect, legal rights and protection that marriage brings. That is great news.”
The survey of 502 likely voters in Rhode Island was conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research July 7 – 12. The margin of error is +/- 4.4 percent.
“As many of Rhode Island’s sister states have implemented marriage equality, the majority support we see in this poll is not all that surprising,” said Dave Walker, vice president at Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research. “Rhode Island voters are clearly ready for change.”
Rhode Island and Maine are the only New England states that do not permit same-sex couples to legally marry.
Majority support for marriage equality in Rhode Island reflects a growth in support nationally for allowing same-sex couples to marry legally. In a nationwide CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll earlier this month, 52 percent of respondents agreed when asked, “Do you think gays and lesbians should have a constitutional right to get married and have their marriage recognized by law as valid?” It is the first national poll in which a majority of Americans voiced support for equal marriage rights.
Among the Rhode Island poll’s major findings:
• The new pro-equality majority is demographically diverse. It includes Catholics (57 percent), women over 50 (56 percent), independent voters (58 percent) and parents (64 percent).
• Support increases further with First Amendment reassurance. When told that marriage equality would not infringe on a church’s right to marry whom they choose, support increases to 66 percent overall and 63 percent among Catholics.
• Politically, this is a net positive vote for state lawmakers. Asked about the impact of a vote for equality on their support for, 27 percent say they would be more inclined to support a candidate, 24 percent are less inclined, and nearly half (46 percent) say it would make no difference. Just 13 percent are much less likely to support a pro-equality candidate.
• In Rhode Island, the LGBT community is the mainstream. Overall, 79 percent of voters here know a gay or lesbian person and 45 percent describe their feeling toward gay and lesbian people as favorable, while just 18 percent are critical. Seventy-five percent believe “homosexuality is a way of life that should be accepted by society.”
Save the Date! The Newport Brunch - Winning Marriage Equality in Rhode Island
For More Information
Please contact April Ricci at (401) 941-2727
HELP WANTED at MERI
Communications Associate. Qualified candidate to manage established communications plan, including: press, blogs, Facebook, Twitter, newsletters, events, presentations and Web site. Relevant experience required. Send resume and cover letter to Kathy at by 5p Friday, July 30, 2010.
Project Coordinator. Qualified candidate to coordinate door-to-door canvass through November 2010. Relevant experience preferred. Send resume and cover letter to Kim at
by 5pm Friday, July 30, 2010.
No phone calls please. All encouraged to apply.
RI MARRIAGE COALITION Press Conference
Comments at the Rhode Island Marriage Coalition Press Conference
July 16, 2010
By Kathy J. Kushnir, Executive Director, Marriage Equality Rhode Island
Today we are here to announce the formation of the Rhode Island Marriage Coalition.
Thank you for joining us and thank you to all our coalition members for gathering here together to speak to the people of Rhode Island.
As you can see, we are a diverse coalition of organizations, coming together to pledge our strength, our readiness and our commitment to securing a fair and just Rhode Island for our sons and daughters, mothers and uncles, neighbors and friends.
In the rich Rhode Island tradition of Roger Williams, a commitment to fairness and tolerance is our pledge. We will work on behalf of all Rhode Islanders to bring equality to our state and we welcome all equality-minded Rhode Islanders to join us.
Since January, we have knocked on the doors of 20,000 of our neighbors from all over our state, gathering support for marriage equality, and we will knock on 20,000 more.
We stand here today at our State House, the place where we will make history in 2011 by passing civil marriage legislation that treats all Rhode Islanders equally, that protects all families equally and secures this beautiful state we call home as a place where all loving, committed couples are respected and protected EQUALLY.
We say to all of you – JOIN US. Stand up for equality where you live and work and love.
RIMC MEMBERS JOINING MERI:
ACLU- RI, AIDS Care Ocean State, AIDS Project RI, American Friends Service Committee – SENE, Behavioral Health Professionals Coalition, 2:1 Coalition to Preserve Choice, COLAGE (Children of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere), Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD), Interweave of Channing UU – Newport, Lawyers for Equality and Diversity (LEAD), Marriage Equality Rhode Island (MERI), MassEquality, National Association of Social Workers – RI Chapter, Ocean State Action, OPTIONS, Planned Parenthood of Southern New England, PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays), Providence Equality Action Committee (PEAC), PrYSM (Providence Youth Student Movement), Queer Action of RI, RI National Organization for Women, RI Religious Coalition for Marriage Equality, Rhode Island Pride, seaQuel (Southeast Asian Queers United for Empowerment and Leadership), University of Rhode Island GLBT Center, Young Democrats of Rhode Island and Youth Pride Inc.
NOM Protest - Sunday, July 18, 1:30p
Join marriage equality supporters to protest the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) and its nationwide tour against the right of civil marriage for same-sex couples.
NOM is bringing its brand of intolerance to our Providence State House on Sunday, July 18th. Join us and let NOM know that our state supports marriage equality!
Marriage equality supporters are meeting at 1:30 pm, Sunday, July 18, 2010, on the north side of the State House (Smith Street side).
Please wear red. Bring signs and rainbow flags, water and sun protection. There is free parking behind the buildings across Smith Street and paid parking in the Providence Place Mall ($1 for three hours). If you have any questions, please contact the event organizers, Queer Action of RI, at:
.
Dinner at the Melting Pot Friday Night for MERI
The Melting Pot & MERI
Invite you to join them in the fight to achieve Marriage Equality in Rhode Island:
Friday, July 16, 2010
The Melting Pot
Providence Place Mall, Providence
Catch up with your family & friends for an evening of fun & interactive fondue!
Enjoy our four-course fondue menu for $40.00 per person.
The Melting Pot will proudly donate $10.00 of each four-course fondue meal purchased on July 16, 2010 to MERI.
Thank you for your support!
Interfaith Pride Service ~ Sunday June 13th, 3p
Interfaith Prayer Service
June 13, 2010
3 p.m.
Beneficent Church, 300 Weybosset St., Providence
Please join us for an Interfaith Prayer Service led by Clergy from the Rhode Island Religious Coalition for Marriage Equality to be held on June 13, 2010 to begin the observance of Pride Week in Rhode Island. We will stand in God’s presence and affirm what others condemn; to celebrate God’s gift of human diversity.
The event will feature clergy and congregants from numerous denominations and faith traditions and will be a celebration of the GLBT Community in prayer and song.
The preacher will be Rev. Irene Monroe, a noted GLBT religious advocate, theologian and syndicated religious columnist. Rev Monroe is the Coordinator of the African American Roundtable of the Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in Religion and Ministry at the Pacific School of Religion and she is a Huffington Post blogger. People are fully welcome from all beliefs.
This festive prayer service will “kick off” Rhode Island Pride Week on a loving and affirmative note.
A Reception in Abbott Park will follow the event.
Special music provided by: Providence Gay Men’s Chorus
Lesbian Speed Dating ~ June 13th
Lesbian Speed Dating
Back by popular demand!
Are you looking to meet other lesbian or queer women in Rhode Island? Are you tired of the bar or club scene and the cheesy pick up lines?
If so, join us for Local 121’s second Lesbian Night featuring Lesbian Speed Dating.
Have fun, meet new people and bid on mystery dates. Come to find a connection while helping raise money for Marriage Equality Rhode Island to continue the fight for equality in Rhode Island.
Pre-registration is recommended, but not required.
To register: Join Lesbians Out and About RI at: http://www.meetup.com/Lesbians-Out-and-About-RI , or email Ebony at
When: Sunday, June 13, 2010
Time: 6-9pm, Speed dating starts promptly at 7pm
Where: Local 121, 121 Washington Street, Providence
Cost: $10.00 per person
This is a 21+ event.
JOIN MERI at PRIDE ~ June 19th
MERI is planning a great PRIDE day on June 19th.
Come out and join the fun!
We will have a booth at the festival ... and don’t forget the parade.
If you have never marched in the parade (or even if you have), you cannot miss that experience. You will never forget the fun and solidarity.
MARCH WITH MERI ~ we’d love to have you join us. Just meet us at the parade formation point. Look for our banners. EVERYONE IS WELCOME.
Make some time to spend with us at the MERI booth or canvassing the crowd for marriage equality support. Contact Emma at
to sign-up.
John Abernathy at Local 121 ~ May 21st
John Abernathy in Live Out Loud!
Featuring contemporary Broadway and Cabaret music written by Stephen Sondheim, Kander and Ebb, Elton John, Andrew Lippa and more - all of whom are out and proud members of the GLBT community.
Friday, May 21st, at 9:00 pm
The Speakeasy @ Local 121
121 Washington Street, Providence
Cost: $20pp in advance at: http://liveoutloud.eventbrite.com
$25pp at the door
Dinner menu available. http://www.local121.com
Look for John’s latest CD at: http://www.john-abernathy.com
With Tom LaMark on piano
John Abernathy - 2005 IRNE Award nominee for Best Male Cabaret singer.
All proceeds go to benefit Marriage Equality Rhode Island.
— recently posted —
Rhode Islanders Overwhelmingly Support Marriage Equality
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Things you can do to help bring marriage equality to Rhode Island:- Make a donation »
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- GET ON BOARD - MERI Announces Launch of Call For MERI »
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event details
Location: Local 121, 121 Washington Street, Providence
Price: $10pp