Ugh:
Rhode Island's House speaker says legislation extending marriage rights to gay couples is dead for the year.The advocates aren't happy, needless to say:
House Speaker Gordon Fox, who is gay and is a leading supporter of the gay marriage bill, says that it's clear the bill won't overcome opposition in the Senate.
Fox, a Providence Democrat, says he'll instead sponsor civil union legislation giving same-sex couples the same state rights given to married couples.
Today, in response to Rhode Island House Speaker Gordon Fox’s announcement that he will advance civil union legislation, Freedom to Marry’s National Campaign Director Marc Solomon issued the following statement:This may explain why the Executive Director of Marriage Equality Rhode Island "abruptly" quit this week, as reported by Joe Siegel.
“Rhode Island House Speaker Gordon Fox has made a serious miscalculation. With support for the freedom to marry topping 60 percent—higher than in any other state in the country—and with a strongly supportive governor, the Rhode Island House should send a marriage bill—and nothing less—to the Senate now. Couples who are doing the work of marriage in their day-to-day lives, who have made a commitment in life, deserve to have an equal commitment under the law. That legal commitment is called marriage. Freedom to Marry is prepared to join with Speaker Fox, advocates on the ground, and a super-majority of Rhode Islanders to make the strongest case to the Senate.
It's up to you, New York, New York.
