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RI: Only 46 Civil Unions in State Since Inception

Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012

Rhode Island Civil UnionsJust 46 couples received civil union licenses in the six months after Rhode Island enacted a law allowing them.

The state chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union compiled the number, which it calls “embarrassingly small.” The group says gays and lesbians shunned the statute in part because of a broad exemption in it that allows religious organizations to refuse to recognize the relationships.

The civil unions law was approved last year after the General Assembly dropped an effort to pass gay marriage. The law allows gay couples to enter into unions that provide the same legal rights and benefits given to married couples.

Full Story from the Post Crescent

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RI: Marriage Equality Bill Introduced in House

Monday, February 20th, 2012

Rhode Island Marriage Equality BillA marriage equality bill was among the three LGBT rights measures that state lawmakers introduced on Thursday.State Rep. Art Handy (D-Cranston) and state Sen. Rhoda Perry (D-Providence) introduced the Equal Access to Marriage Act in the House of Representatives.

A marriage equality bill was introduced last year, but gay House Speaker Gordon Fox (D-Providence) withdrew it after he said there were not enough votes for it to pass. Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed (D-Newport) opposes marriage for same-sex couples. Both chambers are controlled by Democrats.

Fox instead backed supported a civil union bill that lawmakers passed last June. Governor Lincoln Chafee signed the measure into law in July.

Full Story from Edge Boston

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RI: Gay Rights Group Says Marriage Equality Bill to Be Introduced This Year in Legislature

Wednesday, February 15th, 2012

Rhode Island Marriage EqualityA bill that would legalize same-sex marriage in Rhode Island will “absolutely” be introduced during this legislative session, Marriage Equality Rhode Island (MERI) executive director Ray Sullivan confirmed Tuesday.

The bill will be part of the organization’s legislative agenda, which Sullivan said will be released later this week. Advocates in the Ocean State are hoping to capitalize off of momentum in other states, including Washington, which became the seventh state to legalize gay marriage earlier this week. Legislatures in New Jersey and Maryland have also taken steps in favor of the measure.

“We’re absolutely coming back with a marriage bill this year,” Sullivan said. “A lot of politicians would prefer that we just go away and not continue to push this issue, but we will not go away until we see the Governor sign this bill into law.”

Full Story from Go Local prov

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Marriage Equality Rhode Island Expects Passage Within 24 Months

Wednesday, December 21st, 2011

Rhode Island Marriage EqualityWill same-sex couples be able to legally marry in the Ocean State in 2012?

Marriage Equality Rhode Island will continue their efforts to pass a marriage equality bill when the state’s General Assembly reconvenes next month. Ray Sullivan, campaign director for MERI, told EDGE he expects marriage equality will come to the Ocean State within an 18-month to 2-year timeframe.

“It’s an issue of fundamental fairness and equality,” he said. A marriage equality bill was introduced earlier this year in the House, but gay Speaker Gordon Fox withdrew it in April after he said there were not enough votes for it to pass. Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed (D-Newport) opposes marriage for same-sex couples.

Full Story from Edge Boston

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Rhode Island, Illinois Civil Unions Laws See Very Different Results

Friday, December 9th, 2011

Rhode Island and Illinois Civil Union LawsCivil unions may be slow to catch on in Rhode Island, but gay and lesbian couples in Illinois are obtaining them in great numbers.

An Illinois gay marriage advocacy group, Equality Illinois, says its study of county records in that state shows more than 3,700 couples have gotten civil union licenses since that state began offering the option June 1.

In Rhode Island, only 39 couples had obtained licenses as of last month. State lawmakers in the Ocean State approved civil unions in July after legislation to authorize gay marriage fizzled.

Full Story from WAND TV

Click here for gay wedding resources in Illinois.

Click here for gay wedding resources in Rhode Island.

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RI: Only 39 Couples Have Entered Into Civil Unions

Friday, November 25th, 2011

Rhode Island Civil UnionsOnly 39 couples in Rhode Island have obtained civil unions since state lawmakers gave same-sex couples the option earlier this year.

The Rhode Island American Civil Liberties Union compiled the number, which they say shows that gay and lesbian couples see civil unions as a poor substitute for marriage.

RI ACLU Executive Director Steven Brown says the numbers are “ridiculously low” and calls the new law a “fiasco.”

Full Story from The Republic

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RI: Gay Couples Leaving State to Marry

Wednesday, November 9th, 2011

Rhode Island Marriage EqualityDespite Rhode Island’s new civil union law, we’ve learned a growing number of gay couples are crossing the border or moving out of state to get married. And some studies show Rhode Island could be missing out on millions in wedding costs and tax dollars.

We’ve learned only 14 couples have entered into civil unions since the law passed this summer. But census data shows nearly 600 gay couples from Rhode Island spent their wedding day and their cash in other states.

For newlyweds Sarah and Theresa Masnik, it was love at first sight. The URI and Roger Williams grads met in Providence, where they lived together for four years. “That’s where we met,” says Theresa. “That’s where we fell in love, where we had our first date on Federal Hill.

Full Story from WPRI

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RI: Governor’s Wife Officiates at Gay Couple’s Civil Union

Sunday, November 6th, 2011

Rhode Island Marriage EqualityRhode Island First Lady Stephanie Chafee on Saturday officiated over the civil union of gay couple Lynn McKinney and Ron Margolin, The Providence Journal reported.

The men, who met 34 years ago, exchanged vows in front of 250 guests at one of Newport’s gilded mansions, the Rasecliff.

“Ron and Lynn, do you enter into this civil union of your own fee will?” Chafee asked the couple, who responded in the affirmative.

Full Story from On Top Magazine

Click here for gay wedding resources in Rhode Island.

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RI: First Lady to Perform Civil Union Ceremony

Sunday, October 23rd, 2011

Rhode Island Marriage EqualityRhode Island first lady Stephanie Chafee has announced she’ll officiate over a civil union for a lesbian couple, the Associated Press reported.

Chafee will officiate over the civil union of Lynn McKinney and Ron Margolin at their November 5 ceremony in Newport.

The women first asked Governor Lincoln Chafee – a backer of gay marriage who earlier this year took heat for supporting and signing into law the state’s civil unions law – but he was unable to attend due to a previous engagement.

Full Story from On Top Magazine

Click here for gay wedding resources in Rhode Island.

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RI: Groups Try to Repeal Religious Exception in Civil Unions Law

Thursday, October 13th, 2011

Rhode Island Civil UnionsA controversial provision of Rhode Island’s recently enacted civil unions law comes under the microscope.

The National Organization for Marriage of Rhode Island says religious groups are under attack by the American Civil Liberties Union and other groups that want to repeal a provision of the civil union law, which allows those opposing civil unions to decline to provide services or accomodations.

Full Story from WPRO

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