RI, MN, DE, CA get marriage equality. DOMA dies, and now the UK!

[Magmar]

http://www.turnto10.com/story/220653...n-gay-marriage

PROVIDENCE -
Rhode Island senators put their state on the path Wednesday to becoming the 10th state to allow same-sex couples to marry, passing legislation by a comfortable 26-12 margin after nearly two decades of attempts to legalize same-sex marriage.

The bill passed the House in January and now returns there for a largely procedural vote, likely next week, before going to Gov. Lincoln Chafee, who supports the legislation.

Hundreds of gay marriage supporters erupted into cheers and applause - and many cried - outside the Senate chamber following the vote.

"I think it's actually going to happen," said Michael Sherman, 45, a gay man from Providence who came to the State House for the historic vote. "When you tell someone they can't do something because they're different from you, people see that as just wrong. It shouldn't have taken this long."

While the other five New England states already allow gay marriage, heavily Catholic Rhode Island has been a hold-out. Supporters this year mounted an aggressive and coordinated campaign that included organized labor, religious leaders, business owners and leaders including Chafee and Providence Mayor Angel Taveras.

The bill's chances improved when Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed said she would allow the bill to move forward, despite her opposition to gay marriage. Earlier this week, the Senate's five Republicans announced they would all support the measure.

The first gay marriages in Rhode Island could take place Aug. 1, when the legislation would take effect. Civil unions would no longer be available to same-sex couples as of that date, though the state would continue to recognize existing civil unions. Lawmakers approved civil unions two years ago, though few couples have sought them.

Gay marriage legislation has been introduced in Rhode Island's General Assembly for nearly 20 years only to languish on the legislative agenda without a vote. Last fall, House Speaker Gordon Fox, who is gay, vowed to hold a vote early in the session, a move that focused the attention of supporters on the Senate.

Fox's chamber will now get the final say on the legislation, when the House is expected to sign off on minor changes the Senate made to the bill. A hearing on the bill is expected Tuesday, ahead of the House vote next Thursday.

"After all these years, all these setbacks, all the hearings, we kept at it and we got closer and closer each year," said Rep. Frank Ferri, D-Warwick, a gay man who lobbied for marriage legislation before he ran for office and is now one of the top supporters of the legislation. "I'm pumped. I'm excited. I'm thrilled. It's almost surreal."

Supporters framed the issue as one of civil rights, arguing in daylong legislative hearings that gay and lesbian couples deserve the same rights and protections given to opposite-sex married couples. The Catholic Church was the most significant opponent, with Bishop Thomas Tobin urging lawmakers to defeat what he called an "immoral and unnecessary" change to traditional marriage law.

The Rhode Island legislation states that religious institutions may set their own rules regarding who is eligible to marry within the faith and specifies that no religious leader is obligated to officiate at any marriage ceremony and no religious group is required to provide facilities or services related to a gay marriage.

While ministers already cannot be forced to marry anyone, the exemption helped assuage concerns from some lawmakers that clergy could face lawsuits for abiding by their religious convictions.

Delaware could be the next state to approve gay marriage. Legislation legalizing same-sex marriage narrowly passed the Delaware House on Tuesday and now heads to that state's Senate for consideration.

Before Wednesday's vote some supporters held up signs reading "Rhode Island No. 10." Annie Silvia, 61, of North Attleboro, Mass., just across the state line, said she and her partner of 30 years may retire to her home state of Rhode Island now.

"I grew up in Rhode Island and I'd like to retire in Rhode Island," she said. "No. 10 is a nice round number, but I'd like it to be bigger. Fifty sounds good to me."

THIS.

YESSSSS

[Roy Karrde]

Congrats!

[Mikachu Yukitatsu]

Congratulations!

I didn't know your state is heavily Catholic.

[RedStarWarrior]

10th state, 40 more to go!

Also, please make sure your title and first post have more content next time.

[Magmar]

sorry dude! this was post after celebratory shots were had. haha.

Yes, very very excited finally being treated like an equal

[Lady Vulpix]

Finally! I hope the rest of the states and countries who still haven't legalized it follow.

[kainashi]

congrats, now you can be miserable with the rest of the married people.

[Lady Vulpix]

congrats, now you can be miserable with the rest of the married people.

No one forces you to get married if you don't want to. This is for those who do.

[Dark Sage]

Finally! I hope the rest of the states and countries who still haven't legalized it follow.

I know. Among the countries who have legalized it this month alone are France, New Zeland, and Urugway.

URUGWAY! Can you believe it? Even THEY are more tolerant than we are, it seems.

And with Rio de Janeiro doing so too, the 11th state in Brazil to do so, it seems they're well on their way.

[Kumori]

Yay! ^^ I'm not actually gay or anything, but I've always supported gay marriage because I don't see anything wrong with gay people. Not at all. There is nothing wrong with them, a lot of them are really nice!

[Heald]

I know. Among the countries who have legalized it this month alone are France, New Zeland, and Urugway.

URUGWAY! Can you believe it? Even THEY are more tolerant than we are, it seems.

New Zeland

Urugway

URUGWAY!

What

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uruguay
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand

Yay! ^^ I'm not actually gay or anything, but I've always supported gay marriage because I don't see anything wrong with gay people. Not at all. There is nothing wrong with them, a lot of them are really nice!

This post made me laugh, not because there's anything intrinsically wrong with it, just its naive simplicity.

The UK is lining up its gay marriage bill at this moment, but de facto there is no legal difference between a civil union (for gays) and a marriage (for straights), except a civil union can not be referred to as a marriage, nor can it be conducted in a church. I believe this is what the UK's gay marriage bill is going to change.

Anyway, congrats Rhode Island, once we have full gay marriage here, Barry can come here and get gay married to me.

[Katie]

Hooray for completely basic equality in 20-fucking-13!

Meanwhile, in Texas ..

[CaptainJigglypuff]

PA will probably never pass it. I mean our one Senetor has said in public that women who get raped and end up being pregnant should be "thankful for such a wonderful gift from God." Not to mention how messed up some of the public roads are.

[ChobiChibi]

Anyway, congrats Rhode Island, once we have full gay marriage here, Barry can come here and get gay married to me.

SHOTGUN MAID OF HONOUR. You know I've earned it >>

Congrats though Yay weddings!

[Emerald_Gen.3]

I support gay marriage because if two people love each other why can't they be together. And honestly can't tell the difference between straight marriage and gay marriage

[Oslo]

Yay! ^^ I'm not actually gay or anything, but I've always supported gay marriage because I don't see anything wrong with gay people. Not at all. There is nothing wrong with them, a lot of them are really nice!

That's mostly just a ruse we put on. We're actually pretty horrific. *flosses babies out of teeth*

This is wonderful news, Baz! Once it's official you should go marry the shit out of some guys to celebrate.

[Blademaster]

Well that's certainly a net positive for you Rhodeys, I suppose.

But RI is the TENTH state to give the okay? I wasn't aware of that... I'm curious what the other nine are now.

[RedStarWarrior]

Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont, and Washington (also the District of Columbia).

[Magmar]

Anyway, congrats Rhode Island, once we have full gay marriage here, Barry can come here and get gay married to me.

I do ;D

@Katie LOL

[ChobiChibi]

I love to be the one to break this to you, but Magmar's name is Barry Well done for getting the completely wrong idea.

[Dark Sage]

I didn't know that.

To anyone here who wants to know why the message is deleted, I deleted it myself.

Heald... I apologize.

[RedStarWarrior]

I didn't know that.

To anyone here who wants to know why the message is deleted, I deleted it myself.

Heald... I apologize.

Barry can be short for Barrack, so I see your confusion.

[Dark Sage]

My confusion, Red Star, came from the fact that it's a very common insult directed at Mr. Obama by Birthers and certain members of the Tea Party. And I hate it along with every other insult they make towards him.

They claim it was a nickname he used in college, something which is completely untrue, along with all their other claims.

And the worst part is, that's their least offensive insult.

When I confront them on this, they say I did the same thing to Bush, calling him "Dubbya", which is a blatant lie. I never resorted to name calling with him. I didn't like the man, but he was President, and I gave him the respect his office deserved, something which many people refuse to do towards Mr. Obama.

So I jumped to conclusions. Again, I apologize.

[CaptainJigglypuff]

PA is so behind when it comes to equal rights. In my city, there's only ONE gay bar and it's open only after 9 at night AND Tuesday until Saturday. All other gay bars are like an hour away.

[RedStarWarrior]

I'd address Obama to his face as President Barry. I don't think he's the type of person who'd care.

To keep it on topic, I wish the issue of gay marriage would be addressed on a Federal level. The only stipulation should be that any religious organization has a right to refuse to perform such marriages if they wish. However, official employees at any level of government or other tax-payer funded service should not be able to refuse. I've seen instances where a state passed legislation to allow it, but a local-level permit office refused to process same-sex applications. I think such actions are grounds for immediate termination. What if a fire fighter simply watched a building burn because he didn't like the owner?

[Roy Karrde]

I'd address Obama to his face as President Barry. I don't think he's the type of person who'd care.

To keep it on topic, I wish the issue of gay marriage would be addressed on a Federal level. The only stipulation should be that any religious organization has a right to refuse to perform such marriages if they wish. However, official employees at any level of government or other tax-payer funded service should not be able to refuse. I've seen instances where a state passed legislation to allow it, but a local-level permit office refused to process same-sex applications. I think such actions are grounds for immediate termination. What if a fire fighter simply watched a building burn because he didn't like the owner?

I wouldn't mind that, but I am curious if places like Flower Shops that are not specifically religious organizations would have the right to refuse service on religious grounds. The reason I bring this out is that there is a lawsuit currently in court on this very issue right now.

[Dark Sage]

Actually Roy, the flower shops in NYC couldn't have been happier when New York legalized gay marriage. With gays able to marry legally, it meant more business.

Same with caterers, jewelers, people who run convention halls... Pretty much ALL businesses who benefitted from weddings were happy about it, because it meant profit.

Know why? Because Republicans can call Mr. Obama a socialist all they want, but this country is still run on capitolism, and it has not changed since 2008. Not at all.

[RedStarWarrior]

I believe that a privately owned business has a right to refuse service to any person for any reason. However, I don't feel that businesses who practice such should be allowed to have any tax-payer funded agencies as customers.

[Dark Sage]

Private businsses CAN refuse. You see restaurants that have the "We reserve the right to refuse service" sign?

I'm reminded of the story about that bakery who refused to make a birthday cake for a couple who named their son Adolf Hiter (their daughter was named Aryan Nation). They tried suing in order to force them to make the cake, and only got Child Welfare Services on them as a result. Seriously, not the smartest Neo Nazis around.

[Roy Karrde]

I believe that a privately owned business has a right to refuse service to any person for any reason. However, I don't feel that businesses who practice such should be allowed to have any tax-payer funded agencies as customers.

I do too, but the U.S. Civil Rights Act Title 2 Section A says:

(a) All persons shall be entitled to the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, and privileges, advantages, and accommodations of any place of public accommodation, as defined in this section, without discrimination or segregation on the ground of race, color, religion, or national origin.

So that is why it is in court right now, is there a religious exemption for that.

[Dark Sage]

Roy, that passage you quoted is the biggest argument gay marriage supporters are using as to why laws against it should be unconstitutional.

As for religion as a reason to outlaw or restrict gay marriage?

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion...

This short passage from the First Amendment not only grants us Freedom of Religion, it grants us Freedom FROM Religion.

[Zak]

10th state, 40 more to go!

Also, please make sure your title and first post have more content next time.

41 actually... since Washington DC is one of the "ten". Anyway, yay for RI!

[RedStarWarrior]

41 actually... since Washington DC is one of the "ten". Anyway, yay for RI!

DC isn't a state and I did not include it in the 10. Read my later post in which I named them all.

[Nall]

I support gay marriage because if two people love each other why can't they be together. And honestly can't tell the difference between straight marriage and gay marriage

They typically differ from heterosexual marriages in the number of penises involved, although not always. ~THE MORE YOU KNOW~

Hooray equality!

[CaptainJigglypuff]

While we're on the subject, anyone ELSE notice society's hypocrisy when it comes to gay men and women? What I mean is why is it okay for two women to kis and hold hands ANTWHERE they want and sometimes even get applauded for just a simple kiss but two gay men holding hands and kissing is seen as taboo? I mean WHAT'S the difference? Think about it for a minute. Name five mainstream movies that show tow women kissing. Now name five more where two MEN kiss. Notice how easy it is to name the movies for women kissing each other but the only movie you can really think of that is mainstream where two men kiss is Brokeback Mountain?

[RedStarWarrior]

From a hygienic standpoint, it was often not looked upon as badly for women to be with other women because there was less chance for disease transmission.

[Magmar]

Oh my, so many point to address

-Yes, my name is Barry, and it's not short for Barack. I can understand why President Obama chose a nickname though, especially with a name so close to Barrack (which is pronounced differently, more like the "Bar" in Barry actually). It probably made things easier for him. My dad's side of the family is 100%(ish) Irish/Great British, and Baz is a common familiar name there for people named Barry. (In fact, almost no one names their kids Barry in the U.S. these days. I've never had a class with another Barry, but there was one at my undergrad that I knew who was in the class year ahead of me.

-The Governor of Rhode Island is signing marriage equality into law at 5:45 p.m. today. Hooray for progress! It has to pass the House again as amended, but given the 75% supermajority voting in favor last time, it doesn't seem likely that a third of those politicians would back out at the last minute after approving it the first time.

-CaptainJigglypuff, yes I've noticed that. It still is hard to show minor public displays of affection with Nate, but we do ordinary couple things like cuddle at the back of a movie theater. It also helps to be well-connected in the city, as we know many people who own restaurants and can do things like play footsie while out on dates haha

-Gay marriage IS being debated at the federal level; the Supreme Court heard the case on DOMA and will release a ruling next month on the constitutionality of denying federal benefits to married couples in those nine (ten?!) states.

-Delaware's House passed a marriage equality bill recently as well, so we might see the number climb to 11. A potential easy victory is also New Jersey, where the governor, Chris Christie (what a twat) vetoed it after it passed the House and Senate. At least here in RI, Governor Lincoln Chafee promised he would sign the bill when it comes to his desk!

[Blademaster]

While we're on the subject, anyone ELSE notice society's hypocrisy when it comes to gay men and women? What I mean is why is it okay for two women to kis and hold hands ANTWHERE they want and sometimes even get applauded for just a simple kiss but two gay men holding hands and kissing is seen as taboo? I mean WHAT'S the difference? Think about it for a minute. Name five mainstream movies that show tow women kissing. Now name five more where two MEN kiss. Notice how easy it is to name the movies for women kissing each other but the only movie you can really think of that is mainstream where two men kiss is Brokeback Mountain?

Blame feminism. Our apologist society has to applaud any women who dare to be different because it 'empowers' them.

Conversely, men who do such things are perverse degenerates poisoning the minds of our children.

[Magmar]

CONDRAGULATIONS, RHODE ISLAND!

As of rightmeow, marriage equality is the law of Rhode Island! I wish I could be there for this hearing, but alas, my only good excuse is gluten-free lasagna is in the oven LOL. But I was there for the House and the Senate votes

I CAN HAS EQUALITEH

[Dark Sage]

The final procedural vote was taken last night. The tally was 56 in favor, 15 against.

Gov. Lincoln Chafee says he plans to sign it.

To all the people who oppose gay marriage, here what I say:

This is America, and we are a nation that cherishes equality. We fought a war to gain it, and an even worse war to gain it for others. This is how it should be.

Forty states to go.