To oppose marriage equality is to prevent Jews from practicing their faith
In Rhode Island we are proud of our founder’s principles of religious freedom. So on the topic of same-sex marriage equality I would like to educate Senator Frank Lombardi and others with a perspective from my faith, Judaism. Jews believe in the sanctity of marriage. And, over 90% of all American Jews identify with a […]
Rep Coughlin: Democrats ‘pandering’ on marriage equality
“My recollection,” wrote Rep Coughlin on Facebook, “is my Democratic Party barely squeezed out a majority of the popular vote last November. If the leadership keeps pandering on this issue they may find a conservative element of the party changes allegiances giving the Republicans a very solid majority next time around.”
SCOTUS marriage equality decision celebrated in RI
“Can you imagine if we could go in time and bring Roger Williams here today?” asked Rodney Davis to laughs, “but when you boil it down and get to its purest sense, Freedom, Liberty and Justice was the reason why he came here…”
On the joyous occasion of marriage equality in America
As leaders of faith communities that uphold same-sex marriage, we are delighted that the Supreme Court of the United States has ruled in favor of inclusion of all American Couples. Now, all couples will enjoy the same rights and benefits.
San Fran’s Archbishop’s decision to speak at anti-LGBTQ rally has Rhode Island roots
San Francisco Archbishop Cordileone’s decision to speak at the “March for Marriage” an anti-gay marriage rally organized by NOM (National Organization for Marriage) on June 19 has caused quite a stir in Catholic circles. Many are imploring the Archbishop to reconsider his decision to speak at the event, citing Pope Francis’s “Who am I to […]
Costa crossed line when she asked church to punish pols
Rep. Art Handy is “stunned” that Rep. Doreen Costa thinks Bishop Thomas Tobin should look for ways to punish Catholic politicians who support marriage equality, according to a press release sent out by the Democratic Party this afternoon. “I am appalled that she is asking the Church to punish so many good Catholic people who […]
Priest to legislators: I will campaign against you from church
A Catholic priest is said to have sent an email to legislators who voted for same sex marriage threatening to use his bully pulpit as a church leader to get them unelected. “I’m praying for each of you, that you turn back to God,” said an email purportedly from Father Brian Sistare, who is now […]
Video: Marriage party at Providence City Hall
Video from the Marriage Equality celebration held outside Providence City Hall today from 8:30am to 9:30am.
Rep. Ferri and his husband Tony ready for big wedding day
You know your wedding is a big deal in Rhode Island when reporters from NBC 10, RIPR, WPRO and the Associated Press all want to interview you about it. Such is the case for state Rep. Frank Ferri and his longtime husband Tony Caparco, who are re-affirming their wedding vows to one another now that […]
Same sex couples begin applying for marriage license today
Marriage equality for all might not become the law of the land in the Ocean State until this Thursday, but in Providence same sex couples can begin the paperwork part of the process starting today. The Capital City has set up special preregistration process for the flood of same sex couples applying for marriage licenses […]
Justin Katz and the religion of cognitive dissonance
Cognitive dissonance, that uncomfortable feeling one gets when the realization strikes that two or more deeply held beliefs or values are in conflict, will often lead to wild fits of rationalization and self-deception. Hence the emergence of essays defending oxymoronic phrases such as “compassionate conservatism” and “just war.” On their face, these terms are virtually […]
Brown U Dems: unsung heroes of marriage equality
Marriage equality has finally come to Rhode Island, the last state in New England to enact full equality for same sex couples! Many organizations took part in this effort, but one group deserves extra special recognition in my mind; young activists, especially the College Democrats of Brown University. Young people overwhelming support equality for the […]
A proud day to be a Rhode Islander
What a wonderful afternoon it was yesterday in Rhode Island. It was warm and sunny and flowers were bursting through the dirt and blooming from the branches of trees, and the tide was high as a full moon began to rise over Narragansett Bay. And, at long last, the state Senate gave its blessing to […]
Marriage equality: this is it!
Thousands of letters, tens of thousands of phone calls to legislators, and countless hours of hard work have all led up to this moment. After yesterday’s 7-4 vote in the Judiciary Committee, S-38, the bill that finally extends the freedom to marry to all loving and committed couples, will be voted on today by the […]
Rhode Island will win marriage equality today
Rhode Island will remove the last obstacle standing in the way of marriage equality today when the full Senate votes today at 4 p.m. If I’m right, we’ll become the 10th state in the nation – but the last in New England – to abolish same sex marriage discrimination. “We think that when the vote […]
Big vote for marriage equality is today
For Rhode Island progressives, it’s the most widely-anticipated day of the 2013 legislative session. For anyone who values equal treatment under the law, it’s even bigger than that. Today is the day the Senate Judiciary Committee votes on marriage equality. The House already passed it overwhelmingly, the governor is a big supporter too and the […]
NOM, Chris Plante: bark is worse than their bite
NOM-RI’s Chris Plante is becoming increasingly desperate in his efforts to block marriage equality in Rhode Island. The Westerly Sun reports on Plante’s newspaper ads that contained unveiled political threats against Republican Senator Dennis Algiere: If he ends up voting ‘yes,’ we will do what we can to unseat him. He will have broken with […]
CoC leader: ‘Discrimination is bad for business’
The Rhode Island business community has overwhelmingly endorsed marriage equality, and largely stands opposed to the religious exemptions in the Ciccone bill. John Duffy, president of the PR firm Duffy & Shapley and chairman of the Greater providence Chamber of Commerce was quite clear, “Discrimination is expensive and bad for business,” he said on a […]
Labor Vision on marriage equality
To get ready for the big marriage vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday watch this great Labor Vision (for which I am a sometime contributor!) segment on why local labor unions are working so hard get same sex marriage passed this year. Jim Parisi, of the Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health […]
Kiwis passes marriage equality, sings love song
Wouldn’t it be great if marriage equality advocates broke out in song from the gallery seats in the senate chambers, like they did in New Zealand? The Kiwis became the 14th country to lift the ban on same sex marriage, according to ThinkProgress which posted this video of activists leading the parliament in a traditional […]
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