Rhode Island, the last of the New England states to allow same-sex marriage, struck down the ban in May of 2013. The first homosexual wedding occurred on August 1, 2013. The road to victory for Rhode Island Gay Marriage began in January of the same year, when legislators introduced identical bills in the Senate and the House to extend the freedom to marry to Same sex couples. The bill was immediately moved to the House floor where it overwhelming voted in favor of it. By April, the Senate moved the bill to the floor, and the next day it was approved. All said, by May the marriage bill was signed into law by the governor.
In 2011, Rhode Island approved a bill allowing recognition of the relationships of same-sex couples as civil unions. The following year, the governor signed an executive order to recognize legally performed out-of-state marriages between homosexuals. Over 59 percent of Rhode Island voters support equality and the freedom for gays to marry.
The primary supporters for marriage equality and Rhode Island Gay Marriage include:
• Marriage Equality Rhode Island. This lead state organization fought for marriage equality for same-sex couples in Rhode Island.
• Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders: Rhode Island. As New England’s leading legal rights organization, its goals are dedicated to ending prejudice based on gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, and HIV status.
• Rhode Islanders United for Marriage. This broad coalition of organizations, people, and groups operate to secure the freedom to marry for same-sex couples in Rhode Island.
• Freedom to Marry. This nationwide campaign is the group that is winning marriage for same-sex couples.
Supporters of Rhode Island Gay Marriage framed the equality bill as a law focusing on civil rights, arguing that homosexual couples deserve the same protections and rights given to opposite-sex couples. The legislators agreed to state that religious institutions could set their individual rules regarding who is eligible to marry within the faith.
