The 50 Spot: Same-Sex Marriage Hearings Set for Rhode Island

by Michael Jones · 2009-02-19 02:47:00 UTC
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Marriage EqualityThe smallest state in the country takes the top position in today's 50 spot, with word out that next Thursday, February 26, the State Senate Judiciary Committee will hold hearings on two same-sex marriage bills - one opposed to same-sex marraige, and one that will make marriage equality state law.  A showdown!  We're also heading down south for stops in North Carolina and Arkansas.

Rhode Island:  Edge Boston has the latest -- the Rhode Island Senate Judiciary Committee will hear testimony on February 26 regarding two bills before the state legislature.  The first bill, introduced by Senator Leo Blais (R-Coventry), will write discrimination into Rhode Island's constitution by banning same-gender marriage.  The second bill (the good one!) is being introduced by almost a half-dozen state lawmakers, and it will recognize same-gender marriage throughout the entire state.  No state in the country has yet to pass legislation that recognizes same-sex marriage.  Will Rhode Island be the first?  According to State Senator Joshua Miller (D-Cranston), "Anything less than full marriage equality is discrimination."  Sounds like several lawmakers are ready to see marriage equality happen.

North Carolina:  Rowan County passed a county-wide resolution on February 16 urging the North Carolina State Legislature to pass a state constitutional amendment banning any relationship recognition for same-sex couples.  Yup, that includes both marriage and civil unions, as well as domestic partnerships.  Harsh?  You betcha'.  Equality North Carolina vocally spoke out about the measure.  "Putting the rights of a minority to the vote of the majority defies the very essence of our republic," said Salisbury, NC resident Rod Goins during the public comment period.  (Goins is a board member of Equality North Carolina.)  The resolution isn't binding of course, so we'll have to wait and see if the North Carolina State Legislature decides to move forward with debate over a constitutional amendment.

Arkansas:  Speaking of constitutional amendments, Arkansas passed one of the most viciously anti-LGBT laws this past November, when a statewide ballot initiative banning adoption by unmarried parents won a majority of the vote.  The ACLU has filed suit against the state of Arkansas to overturn the ban, and news out this week is that the ACLU of Arkansas has also filed suit to prevent a radical right-wing organization from intervening in the case.  The radical right-wing organization in question, the Family Council Action Committee, doesn't trust Arkansas state officials to argue passionately on behalf of the ban, so they're seeking to get involved in the case.  We hope they don't.  The last thing this case needs is one more voice suggesting that LGBT adoption threatens children.  It doesn't, plain and simple.  LGBT adoption is in the best interest of children, which makes it all the more sad that the ban in Arkansas passed this past November.

Michael Jones is a Change.org Editor. He has worked in the field of human rights communications for a decade, most recently for Harvard Law School.
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