More sponsors sign on to same-sex marriage bill
2:13 PM Thu, Feb 26, 2009 | Permalink
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By Katherine Gregg PROVIDENCE, RI -- When Rep. Arthur Handy introduced his version of the same-sex marriage bill up for debate at the State House tonight, he had three co-sponsors. That was 2003. The revived bill he introduced yesterday carried the names of 30 of the 75 House members, including his own. While the numbers do not guarantee victory for the advocates of same-sex marriage, Handy, a Cranston Democrat, said in recent interviews he was aiming for 30 because it would demonstrate how much, he believes, support has grown within the sometimes tradition-bound General Assembly. His newly introduced bill has not yet been scheduled for a hearing. Tonight's hearing by the Senate Judiciary Committee will focus on two dueling Senate bills to either allow or prohibit same-sex marriage.
Rhode Island is currently the only New England that does not allow either same-sex marriage or civil unions, and the campaign by advocates on both sides of the issue has been fierce. Both Handy's bill and the Senate version being considered tonight contain a section titled - "protection of freedom of religion in marriage'' - that says "each religious institution has exclusive control over its own religious doctrine, policy, and teachings regarding who may marry within their faith, and on what terms'' and "no court or other state or local governmental body, entity, agency or commission shall compel, prevent, or interfere in any way with any religious institution's decisions about marriage eligibility within that particular faith's tradition.'' They also specify that no member of the clergy of any religion shall be "obligated or otherwise required by law to officiate at any particular civil marriage or religious rite of marriage.'' Nonetheless, there have been warring radio ads in recent days by Marriage Equality Rhode Island and an opposition group, calling itself, the National Organization for Marriage Rhode Island whose board of advisers includes the Most Rev. Thomas J. Tobin, bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence. Both sides have been urging their supporters to either come to tonight's hearing or write legislators. And by yesterday, the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee had received a stack of mail nearly an inch thick, much of it beginning with this identical sentence: "For too long, concerned Rhode islanders have been told that our efforts to protect marriage are a waste of time.'' From a writer who identified herself as Barbara Wakefield came a more original, but like-minded message: "This same sex marriage issue has nothing to do with civil rights. It has everything to do with worshipping at the altar of political correctness as well as satisfying a special interest group....Wise up people, stop meddling where you don't belong, study our Constitution as well as some history and philosophy and tend to the business of rescuing Rhode Island from the economic disaster that you have helped bring about.'' Added Desiree Macedo of West Warwick: "One question that should never be asked by our children is why do I have two mommies or two daddies, or that it should ever be thought of [as] the normal way of life when it clearly has not been stated so in the Bible.'' "Yes, I am a Catholic,'' wrote Dave Moran. "Marriage is a sacrament instituted by God. And, joins a man and a woman. It's defined in holy scripture that way. Please let those who want to form another union call it something else.'' Speaking for the other side of the argument, letter writer Theresa Masnik wrote: "Just remember the three R's...Respect, Recognition and Rights...belong to everyone. Remember, Roger Williams left Massachusetts to create a settlement based on a principle of equality.'' Added Selena Maranjian: ''I urge you to do the right thing and strike a blow against discrimination.'' As of yesterday's the lawmakers had received 21 letters supporting the bill co-sponsored by Sens. Rhoda Perry, Susan Sosnowski, Juan Pichardo, Joshua Miller and Charles Levesque to allow same-sex marriage, and 83 in favor of the same-sex marriage ban proposed by Sen. Leo Blais, R-Coventry. 
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Equal Rights for ALL
What a novel idea
Doug in Coventry
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Marriage is not a civil right. No where in the constitution does it guarantee the right to marry. This is absurd and a waste of time. It is the usual garbage we see in Rhode Island, give the special interest groups whatever they want. Just because the rest of New England caved in to the gay agenda, doesn't mean RI has to do the same. But wait, I forgot our politicians have no backbone!
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To the General Assembly:
This is again your opportunity to provide equal protection under the law for all the citizens of Rhode Island. This time forfeit your predisposition to shove your religious beliefs down the throats of everyone in the state and honor the differences between those who reside in a state that, for too long has allowed bigotry as the norm. Be brave. Take a stand. Silence is tacit approval and ignorance can no longer be tolerated on the subject at hand. People's lives are adversely controlled as you have continuously relinquished your power to the church, in complete opposition to the fundamental principle on which the state was founded. Do the right thing.
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Down with liberalism!! I have noticed a decline in American values and I choose now to speak up. Down with gay marriage, ILLEGAL immigrants and liberalism. I am pro American and conservative!! NO MORE LIBERALISM!!!
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The real motive behind this "gay" or queer marriage idea is that deviant behaviour will then be legalized. It is just another step in the liberal wacko ideology that will lead to the total downfall of our country.
Where does this wacko liberal stuff end? Do we allow the "gays" and the ACLU to dictate to the other 90% how we will conduct ourselves?
And to Andrea, when you are done bashing RI and most other religious people living in the US, go read a history book. Our founding fathers were very religious. Our country was founed upon Judeo-Christian values. And if you ever check out the Bible, it was Adam and Eve, not Adam and Jacob.
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Down with conservatism!! I have noticed a decline in American values and I choose now to speak up. Down with divorce, HATE MONGERS and conservatism. I am pro American and progressive!! NO MORE CONSERVATISM!!!
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Marriage is first and foremost a CONTRACT with the State no matter what the uninformed legislator Moran says....go ahead and get your sacrament from God is you want, but don't keep me and my partner of almost 30 years from being legal family to each other to the state.
Grow up and get informed Rep Doran...and all those who voted for him too.
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David - What deviant behaviors are you speaking of? They are looking to be able to have their union recognized by the state in a legal fashion. A wedding certificater is a legal document supplied by the state. Any agent recognized by te state can execute it (church, Judge, JP, ship captain). And you are right, Our founding fathers were very religious, and that is why they were smart enough to know that the rule of law and the rule of God need to be kept seperate.
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Say no to gay marriage. Gay marriage is an oxymoron submitted by immoral morons who want to defy thousands of years of God-ordained tradition. Someone pointed out that Rhode Island is the only state in New England that doesn't have either gay marriage or civil unions. But it's even more interesting to note that there is no state in New England that has allowed its voters to weigh in on this important issue of the definition of marriage. New England has become a place where democracy means little and the liberal ideas of the ruling elite who quote their own little polls on issues like this is how things are run. Don't do it, Rhode Island!
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As a gay RI resident, in a monogamous relationship for the last 17 years - I find all of the debates/comments absolutely pathetic. Either marriage or civil union - all we really want is the same legal protection as straight couples (medical, property etc...) --- So for those of you concerned about the word "Marriage" -- get over it! All we want is legal protection.... is that too much to ask??? Does that really hurt and of you???
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what next??? women can marry their lapdog??? man can marry his sheep??? who to blame??? the left wing wackjob commie/fascist liberal Democrats....though I am a conservative independent I no longer wonder why many Republicans are conservative.....
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The same kind of small minded people that fought interracial marriage in the past are fighting same sex marriage now. If two consenting adults of the same gender want to get married they have the right to do so. They pay taxes.
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