The prospects for gay marriage in RI this year
January 6th, 2011 at 9:31 am by Ted Nesi under General Talk
As Kathy Gregg reports in this morning’s Projo, supporters of legalizing same-sex marriage in Rhode Island plan to introduce a bill to do just that in the General Assembly today. My colleague Tim White did a piece late last month previewing the debate that’s set to take place – take a look and get up to speed:
Update: The big question is whether Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed, who opposes gay marriage, will allow a vote on the issue in her chamber, as Tim noted above and WRNI’s Ian Donnis writes today.
I put that question to Paiva Weed’s spokesman, Greg Paré, last month and he downplayed whether she would treat this issue any differently from others. “Senate President Paiva Weed is personally opposed to gay marriage in Rhode Island,” Paré said in an e-mail. “She would, of course, allow the committee process to unfold in its usual manner with any bill, including gay marriage.”
Tags: gay marriage
Nesi's Notes covers politics and the economy in and around Rhode Island for WPRI.com. (Twitter: 
Homosexual-marriage is not a “civil-right.” There has never been a “right” to marry whoever you want; our government, and governments throughout history, have always regulated who you can and cannot marry. From its inception marriage has had everything to do with the natural family – bonding a man to his children and their mother. The public institution of marriage was never merely “a loving commitment between two adults.” If marriage is determined by the sexual inclinations of adults, then any and all combinations of marital unions are defensible. Under the law, anyone who does not agree with this NEW definition will find themselves being punished and subjected to sanctions for refusing to go along. It is no longer a matter that people are free to agree or disagree, they will over time be forced to agree. Opponents of gay marriage will be treated under the law just like bigots and racists. Period. If marriage is going to be redefined for all Rhode Islanders then all Rhode Islanders should have the right to vote on it. Call your senator and and tell them that you (along with over 80% of Rhode Islanders) want the right to vote on marriage.
I am in total agreement with RNShort on this one. Marriage has never been a right for anyone, it has always been a licensed entity that can be granted or denied on a case by case basis, period. That said, I believe that gay and lesbian couples should have the same rights that my wife and I have available to us in this country. They just can’t have the word marriage to describe their relationship. THINK UP YOUR OWN WORD !!! You can have my equality, but you can’t have my identity.
The word is not just symbolic. Under the law, “marriage” carries thousands of rights that no other contract or term carries. Spousal testimonial privilege, inheritance rights, cross jurisdictional reciprocity. The list is endless. And it’s not “your” word. You don’t own anything, Mr. Roberts.
As to your “identity”, put this on for size. My ancestors founded this country and were plowing fields in America before George Washington’s grandfather was born. My native american ancestors were here long before washington’s or yours. It’s my country too, and your popish attitudes are not welcome in these colonies.
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