PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Rhode Island House Speaker Gordon Fox, who became the nation’s first openly gay House speaker in 2010 is resigning from his leadership post and will not run for re-election, he said Saturday, a day after federal and state authorities raided his Statehouse office and home as part of a criminal investigation that they would not detail.
Gordon Fox
“Because of the respect I have for all members of the House of Representatives, I am resigning as Speaker,” Fox said in a written statement emailed to reporters. “The process of governing must continue and the transition of leadership must be conducted in an orderly manner.”
The 52-year-old Providence Democrat said he planned to serve out the remainder of his term through the end of the year, but that “my personal focus going forward will be on my family and dealing with the investigation.” It is unclear when Fox will officially resign, but the next scheduled meeting of the House is Tuesday.
Fox has represented Rhode Island’s capital in the General Assembly for more than 20 years and is one of the state’s most powerful politicians.
Never Miss a Beat
Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights.
The Friday raids were carried out by the U.S. attorney’s office, FBI, IRS and state police. Boxes of evidence were carried off after agents spent hours at both his home and office. Officials will not say whom or what they are investigating.
While questions remain about the nature of the investigation and Fox’s role in it, his enduring legislative legacy is most likely to be legalizing gay marriage. In 2011, he abandoned a legalization push because of opposition in the Senate.
Instead, he pushed civil unions and was roundly criticized by some gay marriage supporters, who felt bitter and let down.
But just two years later, Fox was instrumental in pushing gay marriage legislation through as the political climate shifted nationally. He became emotional at the bill-signing ceremony on the Statehouse steps last year as he addressed the crowd and talked about his longtime partner, Marcus LaFond, whom he called “the love of my life.”
“This tells me our relationship does matter,” Fox said. “It means that we mean something.”
The two were married last year in Fox’s Statehouse office. Fox came out in 2004, in an unplanned announcement, while addressing a gay marriage rally at the Statehouse.
Article continues below
“People would say, ‘I didn’t know where I was on an issue until he clarified it for me,'” Ferri said.
The raids immediately set off jockeying among members of the House vying to become the next speaker. On Saturday, shortly after Fox’s announcement, Majority Leader Nicholas Mattiello, his top deputy, said he believes he has enough votes, and expected an election Tuesday.
“It is a sad day for the Rhode Island House of Representatives and the state of Rhode Island,” McNamara said. “Speaker Fox had many accomplishments that we should all be proud of. With that said, a transition that does not interrupt the (legislative) process is extremely important.”
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
