Thursday, May 2, 2013
A bill legalizing same-sex marriage passed 56-15.
Sixteen years after legislation was initially introduced in Rhode Island, same-sex marriage is now legal in the Ocean State. On Thursday afternoon, the Rhode Island House of Representatives passed the legislation with a vote of 56-15. "This is a great day in Rhode Island, not just for the many Rhode Island families who will now get the recognition and equality that they so richly deserve, and not only for the thousands who have been fighting for decades for the dignity and rights of all citizens," said House Speaker Gordon Fox, the first openly gay House Speaker in the nation who has cosponsored the legislation every year. "It is also a wonderful day for the generations of future Rhode Islanders who may never know a time when some people…
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
The RI Senate Judiciary Committee votes 7-4 today to move marriage-equality legislation to the full Senate on Wednesday; East Providence Sen. William Conley among those in favor.
The full RI Senate will vote on the same-sex marriage bill tomorrow afternoon after it was sent to the floor by the Senate Judiciary Committee today, April 23. The vote was 7-4. Among those voting in support of the bill was Sen. William J. Conley Jr. of East Providence, according to the Providence Journal. The committee rejected by a 6-5 vote a bill that would have put the marriage-equality legislation before Rhode Island voters in a referendum next year. The victory on Tuesday gives gay marriage supporters much hope in a debate that has been fierce at times. Dozens of same-sex marriage supporters packed the third floor State House hearing room and the hallway outside, according to the newspaper. Voting for the bill besides Conley were …
State Senate GOP Caucus becomes first in the nation to stand united for marriage equality. The Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to vote today.
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…
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Did you change your Facebook page or wear red to support same-sex marriage? Upload a pic here to show your support!
If you visited Facebook the last couple days, you likely saw red - but not the for the usual reasons. Many Facebook users changed their profile picture today to a pink equal sign with a red background in support of same-sex marriage. Did you change your picture or wear red? Show your support for same-sex marriage by uploading the same equal-sign picture above or a picture of you wearing red. To upload, just click on the green "upload photos and videos" button. Let us know if you support or oppose same-sex marriage bills in the comment section below! The social media change comes as the U.S. Supreme Court takes up Proposition 8, California’s gay marriage ban. In 2008, Californian residents voted in support of Proposition 8, which …
Friday, March 22, 2013
Several Johnston residents came out in favor of same-sex marriage while Fr. Healey of OLM came out against.
- GOVERNMENT
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Friday, March 22
By midnight Thursday, people were still testifying for and against the same-sex marriage legislation (S-38) before the state Senate Judiciary Committee. More than 600 people signed up to testify and in groups of four they were called up. Both of East Greenwich's state senators sit on the Judiciary Committee. Sen. Dawson Hodgson (R-E.G., N.K., S.K., Narr.), early on spoke out in favor of the legislation: "If Rhode Islanders truly believe in family values, we need to value all families." To the comments from some that the legislation harms marriage, Hodgson said, "No matter what this committee does, it won't touch your marriage. That's one of the nice things about the separation of church and state." Sen. Lou Raptakis (D-Coventry, E.G., W.W…
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
The bill is headed to the full House of Representatives on Thursday.
- GOVERNMENT
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Tuesday, January 22
STATE HOUSE – The House Judiciary Committee today voted unanimously to recommend passage of legislation to allow same-sex marriage in Rhode Island, sending the bill to the full House of Representatives. A vote is expected Thursday in the House, where 42 of the 75 members signed on as sponsors of the bill, including House Speaker Gordon D. Fox, who pledged to make its passage a priority this year. Today’s vote marks the first time the bill has been voted out of a committee in either of Rhode Island’s legislative chambers, paving the way for what will also be the first floor vote by either of the chambers. The legislation has been introduced annually in some form since 1997. Rep. Arthur Handy (D-Dist. 18, Cranston), who has been the bill’s …
Thursday, May 17, 2012
JohnstonPatch readers have been split on whether Johnston should allow students from out of town to pay to attend local schools, and whether the state should allow gay marriages.
In two recent polls here on JohnstonPatch, results have shown a nearly-even split among voters on the issues of same-sex marriage and allowing out-of-town students to attend Johnston schools. After Gov. Lincoln Chafee signed an executive order that recognizes same-sex marriage certificates from other states, nearly 40 voters replied to our poll on whether Rhode Island should approve what its supporters call "marriage equality." Of those casting votes, 21 said it's time to pass same-sex marriage in Rhode Island. And last Friday, in the wake of the Barrington School Committee's discussion on whether it would charge almost $13,000 to nonresidents to attend public schools in that town, we asked local readers what they thought of the idea. By …
41.826275
-71.507553
Johnston School Department
10 Memorial Ave, Johnston, RI
/articles/close-votes-on-out-of-district-students-same-sex-marriage
509901
/locations/7035677
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Peter Filippi discusses what he feels are the ills facing society today.
- OPINION
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Wednesday, May 16, 2012
It was once written “The truth will set you free." The reality here is, because of the dishonesty that has been taking shape across our journalism industry, many well-intentioned Americans don’t have a clue to what is taking shape across our country other than they sense uncertainty regarding our finances and overall contentment, which brings me to this commentary. The first thing people need to realize is there are “do’s and don’ts” in life. If we live unproductive and self destructive lives, why should others be responsible for our actions? Life is hard enough without being burdened by laws, policies and programs that accommodate criminality, illegal immigration and policies that allow for a variety of fraud and abuse regarding our …
41.82924
-71.415529
2 Capitol Hl, Providence, RI
RI State House
/articles/letter-face-the-reality-to-find-solutions
/locations/7030997
Peter A. Filippi III
11:16 am on Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Our state is no longer a state under Almighty God that this self destructive element loathes. I can only hope that the voters will remember the audacity of the democratic legislature in the next election and throw them all out. Soon we will be lowering our age of sexual consent laws which is another item on their agenda and open bath houses and sex cruises out of Providence etc… more ›