Same sex marriage (SSM)

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In Rhode Island

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Overview:

Rhode Island has one of the smallest populations of any U.S. state -- estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau as 1,050,788 in 2008. It is the 43rd in population of the 50 states -- with a population slightly larger than the city of San Jose, CA. _1,2

Just over 50% of its voters are Roman Catholic. This compares with an average of 23.9% across the entire United States. ₃ Because of fierce opposition from the Church, marriage equality will probably take many years to accomplish there. In the meantime, Rhode Island will serve as an example of how lack of religious diversity can have a negative influence on the attainment of civil rights for minorities.

As of mid-2009-MAY, all but one of the six New England states have either made same-sex marriage (SSM) available, or have a law in place to make it available later in 2009, or are expected to have a law in place during 2009. The exception is Rhode Island. In spite of a significant majority of voters being in favor of marriage equality, SSM has little chance of being approved anytime soon.

Bills to create same-sex marriages (SSM) in Rhode Island have been introduced to the Senate Judiciary Committee every year from 1997 to now. None have proceeded; none have even made it out of committee.

The situation is every politicians' nightmare: a horrendous lose-lose situation. A significant minority (31%) of the public is opposed to SSM. No matter what a legislator does, she or he is going to be severely condemned by a large number of voters.

Both the Roman Catholic Church and the previous governor were strongly opposed to SSM.

	Catholic Bishop Thomas J. Tobin said: "It should not be for us a source of embarrassment that we are the only [New England] state that does not recognize gay marriage. It should be a source of pride."4
	Governor Carcieri, a Republican and Roman Catholic said: "I think we should be doing everything we can to protect traditional marriage."

The term "traditional marriage" means the union of one woman and one man and the exclusion of loving, committed same-sex couples from marriage. Most religious and social conservatives believe that SSM represents a serious threat to opposite-sex marriage. ₃

The first step towards marriage equality for same-sex couples came in mid-2011 when a civil unions bill was passed by the legislature. This will give same-sex couples access to all of the state protections, rights, and obligations automatically given to married couples. However, unlike opposite-sex married couples, same-sex couples will be denied all of the 1,100 rights, privileges, and protections both because Rhode Island does not allow them to marry, and because of the federal DOMA law.

SSM topics covered in this section:

• 2004: Effect of SSM in Massachusetts on couples in Rhode Island
  
  
• 2007: Attorney General issues statement on SSM recognition
  
  
  • Reactions to the statement. Divorce case.
    
    

2008 - 2009:

• Public opinion polls.
  
  
• Senate hearing. SSM suport & opposition
  
  
• Attacks on SSM by governor & bishop; House committee hearing
  
  

2011:

• Renewed effort to pass SSM law fails at committee level
  
  
• House debates civil union bill. Discrimination by faith groups protected
  
  
• House and Senate pass civil union bill. Right of religious groups to discriminate still protected
  
  
• Estimated support for same-sex marriage. Catholic reaction to civil union bill. Bill becomes law. LGBT reaction

References used:

The following information sources were used to prepare and update the above essay. The hyperlinks are not necessarily still active today.

1. "State & County QuickFacks, Rhode Island," U.S. Census Bureau, at: http://quickfacts.census.gov/
2. "List of United States cities by population," Wikipedia, at: http://en.wikipedia.org/
3. "U.S. Religious Landscape Survey: Summary of key findings," The Pew Forum, 2007, at: http://religions.pewforum.org/
4. Cynthia Needham, "Why Rhode Island stands alone on same-sex marriage," Providence Journal, 2009-MAY-12, at: http://www.projo.com/

Copyright © 2007 to 2011 by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance
Originally written: 2007-FEB-24
Latest update: 2011-JUL-06
Author: B.A. Robinson

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