MERI Blog
Updates, news, action alerts and events from Marriage Equality Rhode Island.
RI Bike Tour for Marriage Equality
PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Rick Harris, LICSW, Executive Director, National Association of Social Workers - Rhode Island Chapter, 401-274-4940 (Work) 401–461-5466 (Home) 401-699-6986 (Cell)
What: Bicycle Rides for Marriage Equality - Rhode Island Colleges and Universities
When: April 27, University of Rhode Island: 11 AM – 2 PM,
April 28, Brown University: 10 AM –12 PM, Bryant University: 2 PM – 4 PM
To: Speak with people about Marriage Equality as a Civil Right. Collect Signatures on the Traveling Proclamation for Civil Marriage.
For the past four summers, Rick Harris, Executive Director of the National Association of Social Workers - Rhode Island Chapter (NASW - RI) has been bicycling around many states on behalf of Marriage Equality. He has traveled over 3200 miles, has collected over 2000 signatures on a Traveling Proclamation for Civil Marriage, and visited all state houses in New England, New Jersey, New York and all states to and from Washington, DC. 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 colleges and universities around Rhode Island to solicit signatures and speak to whomever is willing to take a second to talk, Harris states: “The wonderful thing about America is that basic civil rights are guaranteed. In Rhode Island, we hope to win marriage equality rights through legislative action. 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.”
In addition this May, Harris plans to deliver “Marriage Equality O - Grams” to all state representatives and senators bringing the message of same-sex marriage as a civil right directly to their door.
Although all rides are on vacation or personal time, they are endorsed by NASW - RI and Marriage Equality Rhode Island (MERI).
Come as You Are Prom
Rhode Island’s LGBTQ and Allies Prom
Come As You Are Prom
Saturday, May 8th at 7pm
Fraternal Order of Police Hall
464 Mitchell’s Lane
Middletown, RI
Tickets are $20 in advance, $30 at the door (if available)
Tickets can be purchased online at: http://comeasyouare.eventbrite.com
Attire: Come as you are!
Music! Cash Bar! Raffles for wonderful prizes! Don’t miss the great fun!
For more information, or to sponsor, please contact:
To benefit MERI and Channing Memorial Church’s Interweave Group
MERI Family Bowling
event details
Join Marriage Equality Rhode Island in its first series of family kid-friendly events!
Saturday, April 10th
Arrive by 2:15pm
Bowling begins at 2:30pm @ Town Hall Lanes
$5 per person for 2 hours of Bowling, Family and FUN!
Hosted by:
Town Hall Lanes
1463 Atwood Avenue
Johnston, RI 02919
16th Annual URI Symposium on GLBTIQQ Issues
event details
Achieving Marriage Equality in Rhode Island and A History of Same Sex Marriage
Monday, April 5, 2010
7:30 p.m. Hardge Forum, URI Multicultural Center
74 Lower College Road Kingston, RI 02881
Presented By: Marriage Equality Rhode Island (MERI)
MERI Director Kathy Kushnir with RI Representative Frank Ferri and Mark Goldberg
Reception, and conversation to follow.
This program will include a video on Rhode Island and the history of Marriage Equality, an update on the campaign for Marriage Equality in Rhode Island and a discussion of RI funeral planning legislation. This will be a great opportunity to learn more about the struggle and history of marriage equality and how you can get involved.
For a complete schedule of the week’s events: PROGRAM SCHEDULE.
HEARING POSTPONED: Tues, March 2nd, Define marriage as one man and one woman.
HB 7288 was just POSTPONED AT SPONSOR’S REQUEST. The bill WILL NOT be heard on March 2nd.
HEARING POSTED:
Constitutional amendment to define marriage as one man and one woman.
HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE - HB 7288
TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 2010
At the rise (4:30/5p)
House Lounge, 2nd floor
HB 7288 - To Approve and Publish and Submit to the Electors a Proposition of Amendments to the Constitution of the State (Marriage)
Sponsors: Brien, Azzinaro, Menard, Savage and Palumbo
Joint Resolution to submit to electors an amendment to the constitution to define marriage in Rhode Island as a lawful union between one man and one woman.
http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText10/HouseText10/H7288.pdf
To offer testimony on this anti-marriage bill, please arrive at the State House by 4p and go to the House Lounge on the 2nd floor. You will need to sign-up to testify against (con) this legislation.
As always, we thank you for your support.
Please remember to RETURN to the State House at 4p on Wednesday, March 3rd, for the big Rally FOR Marriage Equality:
BE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY! Honoring and Protecting ALL Rhode Island Families.
STAY LIFTED
The stay in Perry v. Schwarzenagger was lifted, or will be on August 18th at 5p.
The appellate court may issue its own stay, but, if not, marriages in California can begin again on the 18th. Yeah.
Stay tuned.
California’s Proposition 8 Ruled Unconstitutional
For Immediate Release
August 5, 2010
Contact: Kathy J. Kushnir, Executive Director
Marriage Equality Rhode Island, 401-941-2727
Celebrating Equal Rights for All Families
California Decision Opens the Door to Marriage Equality
Providence—On Wednesday August 4, 2010, Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker ruled that California’s ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, opening the door to equality for gay and lesbian couples and their families.
“This decision says that the rights and protections of the United States Constitution apply to all Americans, not just some,” said Kathy J. Kushnir, executive director of Rhode Island’s lead marriage rights advocacy organization, Marriage Equality Rhode Island. “All loving, committed couples, all families, are to be treated fairly and equally under the law.”
In his decision, Judge Walker said that the plaintiffs are not seeking a new right, but are asking “…California to recognize their relationships for what they are: marriages.”
“We celebrate this decision and pledge to achieve equality here. Families are at risk today. Gay and lesbian Rhode Islanders should be able to affirm their love in the way our society recognizes, through marriage, and marry in the state they call home,” Kushnir said.
In Rhode Island, the legislature will consider a bill that would allow equal civil marriage for same-sex couples.
The lawsuit was filed by a gay couple and a lesbian couple who argued that the ban violated their civil rights. This case will be appealed to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and could eventually make its way to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Click here for more information.
RI Marriage Coalition Press Conference - July 16, 10am, State House
Stand up for equality and add your organization to the RI Marriage Coalition - email Kathy @ .
For Immediate Release
July 15, 2010
Contact: Kathy J. Kushnir, Executive Director
Marriage Equality Rhode Island
401-941-2727
Community Campaign Grows in Support of Marriage Equality
Rhode Island Marriage Coalition Pledges to Achieve Equal Civil Marriage Rights for all Rhode Islanders
Providence—A broad-based group of LGBT advocates, progressive advocacy organizations, clergy, and social service providers known as the Rhode Island Marriage Coalition will kick off its campaign for marriage equality with a press conference on the north State House steps at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, July 16, 2010.
“The Rhode Island Marriage Coalition represents gay and non-gay organizations from across our state that have joined together in a grassroots campaign to bring equal civil marriage rights to all Rhode Islanders,” said Kathy J. Kushnir, executive director of Marriage Equality Rhode Island (MERI), the coalition’s lead organization. “We have come together to dedicate our resources to ensure that loving, committed same-sex couples and their children are legally protected in the state of Rhode Island by passing marriage legislation in 2011.”
The campaign will include door-to-door canvassing across the state, phone banking, and visits with every legislator, focusing on community education and the passage of marriage equality legislation, which has increased in both sponsorship and public support every year.
“We pledge to achieve equality so that gay and lesbian Rhode Islanders can affirm their love in the way our society recognizes, through marriage, and marry in the state they call home,” Kushnir said. “We look forward to working with all other equality-minded Rhode Islanders to make marriage equality a reality.”
“Equal access to civil marriage is a social justice issue, and as people of faith we believe it is our responsibility to work toward the day when all couples in Rhode Island have the freedom to join in the rights, responsibilities and protections that only civil marriage offers,” said the Rev. Eugene T. Dyszlewski, chair of the Rhode Island Religious Coalition for Marriage Equality, a RIMC member. “We are proud to partner with other organizations that share our values and our vision for a more fair and just Rhode Island.”
In addition to MERI and the RI Religious Coalition for Marriage Equality, other members of the RIMC include:
ACLU- RI, AIDS Care Ocean State, AIDS Project RI, Behavioral Health Professionals Coalition, COLAGE (Children of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere), Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD), Lawyers for Equality and Diversity (LEAD), MassEquality, National Association of Social Workers – RI Chapter, Ocean State Action, Planned Parenthood of Southern New England, PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays), Providence Equity Action Committee (PEAC), PrYSM (Providence Youth Student Movement), Queer Action of RI, RI National Organization for Women, Rhode Island Pride, seaQuel (Southeast Asian Queers United for Empowerment and Leadership),Young Democrats of Rhode Island and Youth Pride Inc.
What: Rhode Island Marriage Coalition announcement and campaign to win marriage equality.
When: Friday, July 16, 2010, at 10:00 a.m.
Where: Rhode Island State House, 82 Smith Street, north steps, Providence
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DOMA Section 3 UNCONSTITUTIONAL
The decision in Gill v. Office of Personnel Management has come in and is a big win for equal rights. Congratulations GLAD and Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley (two cases were heard).
“The Court clearly stated that it is unconstitutional for the federal government to discriminate, which is what it does when it creates two different and innately unequal classes,“ stated Kathy Kushnir, executive director of Marriage Equality Rhode Island.
The Court stated:
“...where, as here, “there is no reason to believe that the disadvantaged class is different, in relevant respects” from a similarly situated class, this court may conclude that it is only irrational prejudice that motivates the challenged classification….(which) never constitutes a legitimate government interest… (therefore) DOMA…violates the equal protection principles (...in) the United States Constitution.“
This decision applies only to couples within the borders of Massachusetts, and may only apply to the plaintiffs (as yet to be determined). A government appeal will go to the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals, which has jurisdiction over MA, NH, ME, RI and PR. This decision applies to practical matters such as: federal employee insurance, retirement benefits, social security, federal income tax, and spousal survivor death benefits.
Also, don’t miss the Huffington Post, where you will see our State House rally on the home page announcing the DOMA decision. Yeah, Rhode Island. We’re next!
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event details
Date: Saturday, May 8, 2010
Location: Middletown, Rhode Island
Price: $20pp in advance