RI Senate Republicans Back Marriage Bill

All five Republicans in the 38-member Rhode Island Senate have committed to support the same-sex marriage bill being voted on today by State Senate Judiciary Committee.

On Tuesday morning, the Rhode Island Senate Republican Caucus announced its support for a bill that would grant marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples, becoming the first unanimous decision by a legislative caucus of either party in the nation to back marriage equality legislation. The State Senate Judiciary Committee, which includes Sen. Lou Raptakis of Coventry, is expected to approve the legislation at 3 p.m. today.

“This is a game changer,” said Chad Griffin, President of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). “Never before has an entire legislative caucus — much less a Republican caucus — unanimously backed marriage equality legislation. The bipartisan momentum for equality grows with each day that passes, and it’s becoming increasingly clearer that the walls of discrimination are crumbling. Our lawmakers in Washington and across the country should look to Rhode Island today as an example of what true leadership looks like.”

Upon passage of the bill, Rhode Island will become the tenth state where gay and lesbian couples can receive civil marriage licenses. The legislation was passed by the House 51-19 in January. Marriage equality legislation has received bipartisan support in each state where it has passed.

Below is the statement released by the caucus on Tuesday morning:

Our Senate Republican Caucus is deeply committed to the values of freedom, liberty and limited government.   In accordance with those values, we believe that freedom means freedom for everyone, and that every citizen of Rhode Island deserves the freedom to marry the person they love.   

We support Senate Bill 38 because it rightfully extends the civil aspects of marriage to all Rhode Islanders while protecting the freedom of religion our state was founded upon.  Gay and lesbian couples deserve to be treated equally under the law, and at the same time churches, synagogues and mosques in our state must be free to exercise their faith and their sacraments as they see fit.  This bill strikes the right balance and should be passed by the Senate. 

We recognize that there is a national consensus building on this generational issue, and we are glad that support for the freedom to marry is growing within the Republican Party.  Today we join the 209 other Republican state legislators across America who have stood up for the freedom to marry.  As a united Senate Republican Caucus, we are proud to add our voices to reaffirm the principles of freedom and equality under the law.

Rhode Island Senate Republican Caucus

Senator Dennis Algiere

Senator David Bates

Senator Dawson Hodgson

Senator Nicholas Kettle

Senator Chris Ottiano