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RHODE ISLAND: House Committee Unanimously Passes Marriage Bill

For the first time ever, a committee of the Rhode Island legislature has voted to send a marriage equality bill to the floor. The Rhode Island House Judiciary Committee voted 11-0 to approve the long-awaited legislation. "Representative Arthur Handy's bill, H 5015, could be voted on by the full House as early as Thursday," reports the Providence Journal.

The bill is expected to pass the House but its fate in the Senate remains uncertain. Democratic Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed has steadfastly opposed mariage equality but supports civil unions.

Governor Lincoln Chafee testified in support of the marriage bill. The governor released a statement which includes:

As I noted in my State of the State Address last week, there are a number of reasons why we should bring marriage equality to Rhode Island this year. It is a civil rights issue, it is an issue of basic fairness, and it is an economic development issue. We are at an economic disadvantage with our neighboring states when we do not ‘have the welcome mat out’ for all those who want to work here and contribute to our economy. Rhode Island already lags behind all of our New England neighbors on this issue; we should swiftly remedy that for the good of our economy and the rights of our citizens.

With this afternoon’s vote, we are one step closer to the day when gay and lesbian Rhode Islanders can enjoy the same fundamental rights, benefits, and privileges as all other citizens of our state. It is my hope that that day will come soon. I urge the leaders of the House and Senate to call the roll, and I will be proud to sign this important legislation when it reaches my desk.

Rhode Island is the only state in New England that does not mandate marriage equality.

The Rhode Island House approved a compromise civil unions bill in May 2011. The bill was introduced after Speaker Gordon Fox—who became Rhode Island's first Black and first openly gay House speaker in February 2010—said a marriage equality bill did not have the votes to pass. Fox's decision was criticized by some LGBT activists.

Rhode Island Senate Votes 21-6 for Civil Unions

The Rhode Island Senate has approved legislation tonight that would allow same-sex couples to enter into civil unions. The approval came less than an hour after the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 7 to 4 to recommend passage, reports the AP.

State senators voted 21-16 Wednesday evening to endorse the bill. The legislation ... allows gay couples to enter into civil unions that offer the same rights and benefits given to married couples under Rhode Island law. It is now headed to the desk of Gov. Chafee for his signature.

The House of Representatives approved the civil unions bill by a 62 to 11 vote on May 19. HB 6103 was introduced as a compromise after House Speaker Gordon Fox—who became Rhode Island's first Black and first openly gay House speaker in February 2010—said a marriage equality bill did

But several civil rights and LGBT advocacy groups are calling on the governor to veto it because of what they call "overly broad" religious exemptions, reports the Providence Journal.

In a two-page letter sent to the governor, the groups said the bill — scheduled for a Senate Judiciary Committee vote on Wednesday afternoon — "represents a huge step backward from Rhode Island’s longstanding nondiscrimination commitments" and provides "individuals and institutions a free-floating license to discriminate against a whole class of people, in defiance of general law."

"This amendment could allow individuals, who are legally required to recognize everyone else’s legal commitments, to opt out of doing so only for gay and lesbian people," the groups wrote. "In practical terms, this law could allow religiously affiliated hospitals to deny a civil union’s spouse’s right to be by his spouse’s side and make medical decisions for him."

The groups that signed the letter included Marriage Equality Rhode Island, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, Freedom to Marry and the American Civil Liberties Union.

Chafee supported marriage equality and says he is inclined to sign the bill. No comment yet from his office on the veto request. The Catholic Church and evangelical leaders are also opposed to the bill.

Georgia State Rep. Rashad Taylor Comes Out: "I Am a Gay Man"

A Georgia state lawmaker has come out as a gay man after being outed in emails to legislators—and accused of misusing his office. Rashad Taylor becomes the first openly gay man and third openly gay or lesbian  legislator in Georgia. Taylor is also becomes one of the very few Black openly gay state legislators in the country.

"I am a gay man," said Taylor at a press conference to address the allegations, reports WSB.

[The email was] sent to dozens of current and former lawmakers detailing these allegations. In the letter, Taylor is accused of meeting men and promising them jobs for sex, and has “use comp tickets and state funds to fund his homosexual relationship.” "As a powerful member of your house he is not using his office for the common good of his constituents but his using his office to promote his own homosexual agenda," the letter continues. The email is signed by 'J Callahan, Concerned Citizen of Georgia.'

[T]he lawmaker denied the allegations ... A source in the Georgia House of Representatives [said] the accuser contacted their offices last week requesting information on how to file an ethics complaint, but no ethics complaint has been filed.

The GA Voice reports the email outing was orchestrated by the ex-boyfriend of Taylor's current partner.

Taylor denied those allegations today, but did say the truth is is he is gay. "For some days it may take two days, for some it take two years or 20 years [to come out]," he said. "I serve in public office and try to retain some semblence of a private life. This is a journey I've been on," he said. "i wouldn't want to expedite anyone else's journey. It ought to be a personal decision."

Taylor was flanked by his mother, who hugged him tightly after he spoke to the media. Also with Taylor today as he came out were several family members, State Rep. Alisha Morgan; State Sen. Vincent Fort; Reese McCranie, the openly gay spokesperson for Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed; Larry Pellegrini, the openly gay executive director of the Georgia Rural Urban Summit; and Georgia Equality Executive Director Jeff Graham.

The Democrat was elected in 2008 and represents Atlanta and portions of Fulton County. Taylor is the youngest member of the Georgia General Assembly. He turned 30 years old only two weeks ago.

Rashad Taylor becomes one of only a handful of Black openly LGBT state lawmakers. Connecticut's Jason Bartlett was the very first and  served from 2007 to 2011. Rhode Island House Speaker Gordon Fox and North Carolina's Marcus Brandon are the two Black gay male legislators currently serving.

Georgia's Simone Bell became the first openly lesbian black state legislator in U.S. history. Maryland's Mary Washington became the second in 2010.

Atlanta has become a nexus for Black LGBT politics. In 2010, the Victory Fund-endorsed Joan P. Garner became the first openly LGBT member of the powerful Fulton County Commission.

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Rhode Island House Approves Civil Unions by 62-11 Vote

The Rhode Island House of Representatives has approved a civil unions bill by a 62 to 11 vote, reports the Providence Journal.

The measure, which would still need to be approved by the Senate, would provide same-sex couples with the same "rights, benefits, protections, and responsibilities" that state law grants to married couples. ... The House Judiciary Committee voted 9 to 3 Tuesday to support House bill 6103.

Rep. Arthur Handy, D-Cranston ... introduced a floor amendment Thursday that would have allow same-sex couples to marry, but the Associated Press reported that House Speaker Gordon Fox ruled the marriage amendment out of order because it would rewrite the bill. Gay marriage supporters tried to overrule him but failed.

HB 6103 was introduced as a compromise after Fox—who became Rhode Island's first Black and first openly gay House speaker in February 2010—said a marriage equality bill did not have the votes to pass. Fox's decision has been criticized by some LGBT activists.

Democratic Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed opposed mariage equality but supports civil unions. Weed expects a civil unions bill to pass her chamber.

Same sex marriages are the law in neighboring Connecticut and Massachusetts. Rhode Island and Maine are the only two states lacking marriage equality laws in New England.

RI Legislators Shift to Civil Unions, Say Marriage Equality Won't Pass

Rhode Island's marriage equality bill is dead for the year, reports the AP.

House Speaker Gordon Fox, who is gay, said the legislation has "no realistic chance" of passing the state's General Assembly this year. Fox, a Providence Democrat, said instead he will support new legislation creating civil unions that would offer substantially the same rights given by the state to married couples.

"This is the best we can do right now," he said. "Full marriage will happen. I'm born and bred in Rhode Island. When I do get married it will be in my home state."

The announcement deeply disappointed those who hoped this would be the year the Ocean State joined five other states in recognizing gay marriage. Groups that led the fight for gay marriage said they wouldn't support any measure that falls short of full marriage.

Fox—who became Rhode Island's first Black and first openly gay House speaker in February 2010—cited opposition in the House and Senate from both parties. Democratic Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed is also considered one of the bill's prime obstacles. Weed supports civil unions.

A group of college students demonstrated this afternoon outside Fox's office in hopes of persuading him to allow a House vote on the marriage bill measure. Fox defended his decision to shift strategy to civil unions, reports the Providence Journal.

"I have been in a domestic partnership for 11 years. I have lived it," said the openly gay Providence Democrat to a crowd of 20 mostly college-age protesters. "And I am not stepping back one iota from my belief that marriage equality is what Rhode Island needs. But I have to balance that with what we can achieve now."

He argued that he supports civil unions knowing that he has a commitment from Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed and Governor Chafee that this would pass this session and give Rhode Islanders "real rights now."

Fox explained the strategy shift in a letter to colleagues this afternoon. Read the full text of Speaker Fox's letter AFTER THE JUMP ...

Rhode Island: Marriage Equality Bill to Be Introduced Today

After years of frustration, efforts to legalize same-sex marriage in Rhode Island ramp up this week. A marriage equality bill will be re-introduced in the House. There is new momentum to legalize same-sex marriage with newly-inaugurated Governor Lincoln Chafee and openly gay House Speaker Gordon Fox supporting the bill, reports the Providence Journal.

Rep. Arthur Handy, D-Cranston, said he had already lined up 27 co-sponsors and was hoping for more, but would introduce the bill no matter what the number on Thursday in hopes of spurring an early-session hearing and vote on the measure. Besides Handy, the other lead sponsors include Representatives Frank Ferri, D-Warwick, Edith Ajello, D-Providence, Deborah Ruggiero, D-Jamestown, and the openly gay House Speaker Gordon D. Fox, D-Providence, who had said in the days leading up to the start of the 2011 General Assembly session that he hoped for a House vote on same-sex marriage early in the session, before the lawmakers get wrapped up in the budget and other issues.

The legislation:

It says: “Any person who otherwise meets the eligibility requirements [in law] may marry any other eligible person regardless of gender.” It also says: “No person shall marry” a long list of relatives, including a parent, grandparent, sibling or child of a sibling, and makes clear that no religious institution would be required to perform a civil marriage if it conflicted with its teachings.

One Democratic rep, Jon Brien of Woonsocket, vows to block the bill. Brien promises that "within days" he will introduce legislation that would mandate a public referendum on the issue.

The outlook in the Senate remains uncertain. Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed reportedly is "personally opposed" to gay marriage but has not indicated if she will try to block the bill. At any rate, the bill's chances of success are much higher with the homophobic former Republican Gov. Donald Carcieri—and a veto threat—out of the picture.

RI Gov. Carcieri Vetoes Hate Crime Expansion to Incl. Gender Identity

Rhode Island's socially conservative Republican Gov. Donald Carcieri has vetoed HB 7044/SB 2055, which proposed the addition of gender identity or expression to the state's hate crimes statute, reports EDGE Boston.

"Carcieri vetoed the measure because he said the law already addresses actions "motivated by racial, religious, sexual orientation, gender or disability prejudice." ... Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders encouraged LGBT Rhode Islanders to urge their legislators to override Carcieri’s veto. 'It’s a simple bill but critical for protecting transgender citizens from violence and harassment - protection all Rhode Islanders deserve,' said GLAD executive director Lee Swislow in a statement. Other LGBT activists criticized the governor’s veto. 'The governor of [RI] has once again shown his disdain for LGBT Rhode Islanders, especially his utter lack of caring about transgender people who face immense harassment and violence based on how they present their gender,' said Susan Heroux of Queer Action. 'One wonders what the governor would do if one of his grandchildren turns out to be gay or transgender. Would he continue to not care about us?' The Family Research Council, however, praised Carcieri’s actions."

House Speaker Gordon D. Fox, who is black and openly gay, criticized the governor's action but added "no decision has been made" on a veto override.

Carcieri's veto is just the latest entry to a long résumé of anti-LGBT actions. Last November, the governor received national attention after his mean-spirited veto of a bill that granted funeral decision-making rights to same-sex couples. Rhode Island's legislature easily overrode the veto.

The governor’s term expires in January.

Rhode Island Elects Its First Black and First Gay House Speaker

An update to a story R20 first reported in December. Rhode Island lawmakers have elected Rep. Gordon D. Fox as the state's first black and first openly gay House speaker, the Boston Herald reports.

The Democrat from Providence received votes Thursday from 51 of the 75 lawmakers in the House. Democrats nominated him during an earlier closed-door caucus. The 48-year-old lawyer previously served as House majority leader. He replaces former House Speaker William Murphy, who will continue to represent his district until the legislative session ends early next year. Fox announced he was gay in 2004 during a Statehouse rally in support of gay marriage.

Fox said in an interview with The Providence Journal that he is "in a long-term relationship, but not officially married. ... When I get married, I would like to do it in my home state." Rhode Island and Maine are the only New England states that have not approved marriage equality. Fox says he is "reluctant" to make a commitment to bring the issue to the House floor for a vote after Murphy leaves. Rhode Island's anti-gay Republican governor Donald Carcieri has tried to block even basic rights for LGBT couples.

Fox is biracial—his father is Irish, his mother Cape Verdean—and considers himself black. He does so, the Providence Journal writes, because he hopes to be a role model for black youngsters and black gay youth.

Fox, who was the House Majority Leader, becomes the nation's second openly gay legislative leader. Los Angeles Democratic Assemblymember John A. Pérez was recently elected the very powerful speaker of the California Assembly. Bravo and congratulations to Speaker Fox.