Local Leaders Unite for Equality, Sans Paiva Weed

There’s a new coalition fighting for same sex marriage rights in Rhode Island and it consists of just about every political leader in the state except for Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed. She’s the only one left who still doesn’t support equality.

Rhode Islanders United for Marriage includes Gov. Linc Chafee, Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts, General Treasurer Gina Raimondo, Secretary of State Ralph Mollis, Providence Mayor Angel Taveras and a host of legislators. They, along with many progressive and religious leaders, will be at the Central Congregational Church in Providence this morning rallying support for the state to end its separate but equal relationship rights era.

It’s a show of force, to be sure.

And it makes sense – not only is it the right thing to do, it’s also a popular position in the Ocean State. A WPRI poll shows more than 56 percent of Rhode Island residents support same sex marriage rights and only 36 percent oppose them. There is a mandate for marriage equality.

Hopefully all of these leaders are lobbying Paiva Weed behind the scenes about how her bigoted stance against equality will affect her legacy, as well as the rest of her career. I’m certain I’m not alone in not wanting someone who stands in the way of equal rights under the law from ever being a judge…