Rhode Island

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- As debate over gay marriage in Rhode Island simmers, lawmakers say the results could turn on an exemption in the bill that allows religious organizations to decide whether they will perform or recognize gay marriages. [ Read more → ]

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A Brown University poll finds 60 percent of those surveyed support legalizing same-sex marriage in Rhode Island. [ Read more → ]

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The debate over same-sex marriage in Rhode Island is moving from the Statehouse to the boardroom as supporters argue the state is at an economic disadvantage with its five New England neighbors, which already allow same-sex nuptials. [ Read more → ]

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The leaders of the Rhode Island Bar Association have endorsed a proposal to allow gay and lesbian couples to marry. [ Read more → ]

A majority of Rhode Island voters say same-sex marriage should be legalized in the state, according to a new survey released Thursday by Public Policy Polling. [ Read more → ]

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The fate of marriage equality legislation in Rhode Island could hinge on the exemptions it affords religious groups that oppose it, the state Senate president said Friday, just one day after the House overwhelmingly passed the bill. [ Read more → ]

The Rhode Island House of Representatives on Thursday overwhelmingly passed legislation to allow gays and lesbians to marry in the only New England state where they can't. [ Read more → ]

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Rhode Island House is poised to debate and vote on legislation that would allow gay and lesbian couples to marry -- the first time the issue has gone to a legislative vote in the only New England state without same-sex marriage. [ Read more → ]

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Legislation to allow gay marriage in Rhode Island is headed for a vote in the state House of Representatives after being unanimously endorsed Tuesday by a legislative committee. [ Read more → ]

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Legislation to allow gay and lesbian couples to marry in Rhode Island is headed to its first test in the General Assembly today, as the House Judiciary Committee is scheduled to vote on the bill. [ Read more → ]

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Legislation to allow gay and lesbian couples to marry in Rhode Island will soon head to its first political test. The House Judiciary Committee has scheduled a vote on the measure for Tuesday. If the panel passes the measure as expected, it... [ Read more → ]

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Hundreds of supporters of same-sex marriage rights assembled at the Rhode Island Statehouse on Tuesday, urging lawmakers to make the nation's smallest state the 10th to allow gay and lesbian couples to wed — and the last to do so in New... [ Read more → ]

Same-sex marriage takes center stage in the Rhode Island state legislature on Tuesday as the House Judiciary Committee is scheduled to review a proposed marriage equality bill. The committee is expected to hear several hours of testimony this evening from gay marriage supporters and opponents.... [ Read more → ]

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee said Thursday that he would likely veto any attempt to put same-sex marriage to a public vote, and said state lawmakers owe it to voters to decide the issue in the legislature. The Rhode Island House of Representatives is scheduled to vote within weeks on legislation that would allow same-sex couples to marry, however opponents of same-sex marriage have expressed their support for alternative legislation that would put the question before voters. [ Read more → ]

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Roman Catholic Bishop Thomas J. Tobin is urging Rhode Island state lawmakers to reject the latest proposal to legalize same-sex marriage, calling it "immoral and unnecessary." [ Read more → ]

Two Rhode Island state lawmakers on Thursday formally introduced bills in the state House and Senate that would legalize marriage equality for same-sex couples, setting the stage for Rhode Island to become the tenth -- or eleventh, depending on progress in Illinois -- state to where same-sex marriage is legal. [ Read more → ]

The Rhode Island General Assembly kicks off its 2013 session Tuesday, and the first big debate of the year is likely to center on same-sex marriage. [ Read more → ]

Rhode Island state Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed (D-Democrat) said Monday that, despite her opposition to same-sex marriage, she expects the issue will be considered by the Senate Judiciary Committee in the upcoming legislative session if the House advances a bill. [ Read more → ]

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- A new political ad sponsored by the National Republican Congressional Committee links freshman U.S. Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.) to a convicted pedophile and murderer he represented as a defense attorney twenty years ago. [ Read more → ]

U.S. Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.), one of just four openly gay members of Congress, won his Democratic primary Tuesday against Anthony Gemma, an opponent he also defeated in 2010 when he was first elected to the House. [ Read more → ]