Rhode Island Did It!

Jim Burroway

May 2nd, 2013

Done:

Rhode Island’s House, led by Representative Gordon D. Fox, a Democrat and the country’s first openly gay House speaker, first passed a same-sex marriage measure by 51 to 19 in January. On April 24, the Senate approved a modified version by 26 to 12 that expanded protections for religious organizations. That change prompted today’s vote, which was largely procedural. It passed, 56 to 15.

and done:

Gov. Lincoln Chaffee signs the marriage equality bill into law.

Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee on Thursday signed a bill that will allow same-sex couples to marry in the Ocean State.

“Today we are making history,” he said. “We are living up to the ideals of our founders.”

Rhode Islanders United for Marriage Campaign Director Ray Sullivan, gay House Speaker Gordon Fox (D-Providence) and other same-sex marriage supporters joined Chafee on the steps of the State House in Providence as he signed the measure into law.

Rhode Island will become the tenth state, in addition to the District of Columbia, to provide marriage equality when the law takes effect on August 1. All of New England, the Cradle of Liberty, is now a solid mass of equalityness. Interesting to note that four legislators took a last-minute opportunity to go from opposition to support in what was otherwise a procedural vote.

Marriage equality bills are also working their way through the state legislatures in Delaware, Illinois and Minnesota. Meanwhile, NOM’s Brian Brown remains in denial:

“I don’t know that I would say Rhode Island is a trend.”

Steve

May 2nd, 2013

So do these ridiculous and unnecessary “religious exemptions” allow religiously-affiliated businesses like hospitals to ignore same-sex marriages?

Lindoro Almaviva

May 2nd, 2013

“I don’t know that I would say Rhode Island is a trend.”

Brian Brown will still be saying that when the 20th state votes for equality

Matt

May 2nd, 2013

Denial- not just a river in Egypt…

Timothy Kincaid

May 3rd, 2013

No Rhode Island isn’t a trend… But ten states, each coming more quickly than the last, with ever increasing bipartisan support, with increasing populace appeal, that’s a trend.

Richard Rush

May 3rd, 2013

“NOM’s Brian Brown remains in denial”

That’s because the alternative to denial is too terrifying for him to contemplate: Rhode Island represents another crack in the track that will soon derail his NOM gravy train that pays him $500,000 a year to support his wife and their eight children. He’s not yet prepared to face the reality that irresponsibly prolific breeding has consequences, especially when coupled with his job-failure in a field that has no future.

StraightGrandmother

May 3rd, 2013

I don’t think Brian Brown makes $500,000 a year. I remember Maggie Gallagher made right around $200,000 wasn’t Brian Brown around $300,000 a YEAR. I’m trying to remember.

Richard Rush

May 3rd, 2013

Hi StraightGrandmother,

I’ve seen it in a few places. Here is one of them:

http://www.queerty.com/gay-marriage-foes-face-money-woes-but-noms-brian-brown-is-sitting-pretty-with-500000-plus-salary-20130130/

After considerable effort, former presidential candidate Fred Karger got a copy of NOM’s 2011 501(c)3 tax return and discovered that Brown made serious bank in 2011.

He [Brown] was paid $230,000 by NOM’s political operation where he claimed to work a minimum of 40 hours per week, and another whopping $230,000 from NOM’s Educational Fund where he claimed to work another 40 hours per week. Add $47,000 in benefits and you have the “Half-Million Dollar Man.”

Here are links to the tax returns:

http://www.nomresources.com/files/nom-inc_990_2011_redacted.pdf

http://www.nomresources.com/files/nom-ed-fund_990_2011_redacted.pdf

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