Rhode Island

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The independent governor of Rhode Island said Tuesday that an upcoming Democratic primary could be key in determining whether the state will pass same-sex marriage legislation next year. [ Read more → ]

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee on Monday issued an executive order directing state agencies to recognize same-sex marriages performed out of state as legal, and to treat married same-sex couples in the same manner as married heterosexual couples. [ Read more → ]

NARRAGANSETT, R.I. -- Rhode Island's First Lady Stephanie Chafee, wife of Gov. Lincoln Chafee, has announced that she will perform a same-sex civil union ceremony for two close friends. [ Read more → ]

On July 2nd of this year, Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee signed a bill which legalized civil unions in the Ocean State. Though Governor Chafee recognized that the bill was "imperfect" (as it did not give full marriage rights to gays and lesbians) he believed... [ Read more → ]

Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee on Saturday signed into law legislation legalizing civil unions for same-sex couples. [ Read more → ]

Rev. Thomas J. Tobin, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence, on Thursday sent a warning to Rhode Islanders of God’s wrath for the passage of same-sex civil unions, and forbade Catholics from entering into such unions. [ Read more → ]

Coming just days after the New York legislature voted to legalize same-sex marriage, Rhode Island state lawmakers on Wednesday voted to approve a bill that would permit civil unions between gay and lesbian couples. [ Read more → ]

The Rhode Island's House of Representatives on Thursday voted overwhelmingly to approve a same-sex civil unions bill. [ Read more → ]

A Rhode Island state House committee on Tuesday voted to advance a bill that would legalize civil unions for same-sex couples — the same bill that was met with scorn by gay marriage supporters and opponents at the committee hearing last week. [ Read more → ]

A proposed compromise to legalize same-sex civil unions in Rhode Island, was met with scorn by gay marriage supporters and opponents at a state House committee hearing on Wednesday evening. [ Read more → ]

Rhode Island lawmakers introduced legislation on Tuesday in the state House that would allow for same-sex civil unions, one week after the openly gay House Speaker conceded there was not enough support to pass a marriage equality bill. [ Read more → ]

After working to defeat a marriage equality bill, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence has also urged Rhode Island lawmakers to reject the compromise of a civil unions bill. [ Read more → ]

Rhode Island's openly gay House speaker said Wednesday that legislation to legalize same-sex marriage is dead for the year, because it's clear the bill won't overcome opposition in the state Senate. [ Read more → ]

Rhode Island lawmakers are considering civil unions as a possible alternative to legalizing same-sex marriage. [ Read more → ]

The debate over same-sex marriage returned to Rhode Island this week, as hundreds of citizens turned out for a public hearing on Thursday. [ Read more → ]

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Governor Lincoln Chafee’s support of marriage equality for same-sex couples isn’t sitting well with the National Organization For Marriage (NOM). They’re spending thousands more on a new ad attacking the Governor. [ Read more → ]

2011 will likely see a number of battles state by state across the country. Three states plus the District of Columbia are facing the prospect of losing marriage equality, an additional seven states could start the process of amending their state constitutions to ban marriage equality, five could gain marriage equality. [ Read more → ]

The National Organization for Marriage has targeted Rhode Island with a new $100,000 advertising campaign, aimed at derailing legislative efforts to legalize gay marriage. [ Read more → ]

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Rhode Island may be poised to become the next state to legalize same-sex marriage as bills were introduced Thursday in the state's House and Senate chambers aimed at doing just that. [ Read more → ]

We are saddened to learn today of two more gay teens who have turned to suicide. This brings the total to 6 known suicides in September by openly gay, or perceived gay, teenagers. [caption id="attachment_11090" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Raymond Chase"][/caption] Raymond Chase, a 19-year-old openly gay... [ Read more → ]