POTUS Weighs In On RI Marriage Equality Bill

A political heavy hitter has weighed in on marriage equality in Rhode Island – and I don’t mean Bishop Tobin. The Washington Blade, a LGBT newspaper in Washington D.C. asked President Barack Obama specifically about the Ocean State’s effort to end marriage discrimination and here’s the response White House spokesperson Shin Inouye gave The Blade:

“While the President does not weigh in on every measure being considered by the states, he believes all couples should be treated fairly and equally, with dignity and respect,” said White House spokesperson Shin Inouye. “As he has said, his personal view is that it’s wrong to prevent couples who are in loving, committed relationships, and want to marry, from doing so.”

The Blade said it was a similar response as Obama gave to a question about a marriage equality bill before the Illinois legislature, which was the first time the president weighed in on marriage rights at the state level.

Here on the home front, we reported earlier today that Episcopal Bishop Patrick Knisely is instituting procedural changes in the church to allow for same sex sacraments. The Providence Journal reports that Catholic Bishop Thomas Tobin disagrees with how Chafee would like to proceed with marriage equality; the bishop told the governor that the voters should decide the law.

Rev. Gene Dyszlewski posted to RI Future today about why he disagrees with Bishop Tobin, writing, “What is a matter of concern for me is that he seems to be asking that the Catholic understanding of marriage be enshrined into civil law in Rhode Island.  Not a good idea.”