Current Actions

• This Historic Moment

  Today, Gov. Chafee made history by signing an executive order providing ciritical clarity and direction to state departments and agencies regarding the recognition of out-of-state, same-sex marriage. It's time for the General Assembly to follow in the spirit of President Obama and Governor Chafee's leadership and pass marriage equality legislation. Make sure your state representative and senator hear from you now! 

• Thank Senator Reed for supporting marriage equality

  

  Sen. Jack Reed has announced his support for marriage equality and he will now co-sponsor The Respect for Marriage Act.
  

  For the past few months, MERI has asked supporters to contact Senator Reed and tell him to stand up for equality for all families. Jack Reed heard you loud and clear, and now it's time for us to say thanks. He joins Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, Rep. David Cicilline, and Rep. Jim Langevin as co-sponsors of this important civil rights legislation. 

  Please take a minute and thank Sen. Reed for responding to your call to action. On the heels of President Obama's announcement, this is a significant momentum boost for the marriage equality movement in Rhode Island and further proof that your efforts are making a real difference!

• Support the 2012 Equality Slate

  Same-sex couples deserve the same basic civil rights as any other couple in Rhode Island. Unfortunately, current Rhode Island law contains a number of gay exceptions which means that gay and lesbian couples are treated differently than everyone else. We're taking steps to fix that, and we need your help.

  Of course, our primary focus is to pass the Equal Access to Marriage Act. Same-sex couples in Rhode Island are being denied the basic dignity and respect that comes with marriage. Civil unions are separate and unequal. Everyone knows what marriage means. It means that you're a family.

  Access to our judicial system is a fundamental right which is why we have introduced the Equal Access to Family Courts Act. Married same-sex couples who live in Rhode Island are denied access to family courts to dissolve their marriages, unlike other married couples. That also means the children of these marriages do not have the protections that court proceedings provide when a marriage ends!
  
  We support common-sense exemptions and protections for the clergy and religious organizations. The Equal Religious Protection Act removes the discriminatory portions of the Corvese language. Religious freedom can coexist with basic civil rights. However, current Rhode Island law gives religious institutions a broad, dangerous, and unprecedented license to discriminate by pretending that a couple’s state-granted legal status simply does not exist.  A Catholic hospital, for example, can deny decision-making power to the spouse of a patient; a religiously-affiliated university could deny an employee family medical leave to care for his criticall ill spouse. That's just not right.

  Until all citizens are equal, Rhode Island has not acheived justice. Reach out to your state legislators and tell them that all couples in Rhode Island deserve equality.

• Support the 2012 Equality Slate

  Same-sex couples deserve the same basic civil rights as any other couple in Rhode Island. Unfortunately, current Rhode Island law contains a number of gay exceptions which means that gay and lesbian couples are treated differently than everyone else. We're taking steps to fix that, and we need your help.

  Of course, our primary focus is to pass the Equal Access to Marriage Act. Same-sex couples in Rhode Island are being denied the basic dignity and respect that comes with marriage. Civil unions are separate and unequal. Everyone knows what marriage means. It means that you're a family.

  Access to our judicial system is a fundamental right which is why we have introduced the Equal Access to Family Courts Act. Married same-sex couples who live in Rhode Island are denied access to family courts to dissolve their marriages, unlike other married couples. That also means the children of these marriages do not have the protections that court proceedings provide when a marriage ends!
  
  We support common-sense exemptions and protections for the clergy and religious organizations. The Equal Religious Protection Act removes the discriminatory portions of the Corvese language. Religious freedom can coexist with basic civil rights. However, current Rhode Island law gives religious institutions a broad, dangerous, and unprecedented license to discriminate by pretending that a couple’s state-granted legal status simply does not exist.  A Catholic hospital, for example, can deny decision-making power to the spouse of a patient; a religiously-affiliated university could deny an employee family medical leave to care for his criticall ill spouse. That's just not right.

  Until all citizens are equal, Rhode Island has not acheived justice. Reach out to your state legislators and tell them that all couples in Rhode Island deserve equality.

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  Repeal the discriminatory Corvese Amendment:
  Support the Equal Religious Protection Act

  Everyone knows that civil unions in Rhode Island establish a second class citizenry, and sadly, some Smith Hill politicians believe that separate is still equal. But what makes the civil union law even more offensive is the inclusion of language inserted at the insistence of anti-equality Rep. Arthur "Doc" Corvese, whose amendment allowed private and religiously-affiliated organizations, including hosptials, to ignore the legal standing of a civil union spouse, even in an emergency. 

  As a result, anti-equality organizations and some faith leaders have claimed the right to not only oppose civil unions, but also refuse to acknowledge their existence.

  The General Assembly has given certain institutions a broad, dangerous, and unprecedented license to discriminate by pretending that a couple’s state-granted legal status simply does not exist. We support common sense exemptions and protections for the clergy.  The government should not be in the business of telling any religion what rites or ceremonies it must convey or condone. At the same time, however, we believe the General Assembly has gone too far in granting private organizations the autonomous authority to operate outside the boundaries of the law. And that's what the Corvese Amendment does: it is a state-sponsored license to discriminate.

  We are fortunate to live in a great country where the Constitution provides the strongest possible guarantees of religious freedom. But under current law, a Catholic hospital, for example, can deny decision-making power to the spouse of a patient, and religiously-affiliated university could deny an employee family medical leave to care for his critically ill spouse. That’s just not right.

  Reach out to your legislators today and tell them that no one should have a free pass to discriminate. Tell them to support H7753, by Rep. Ferri and S2503, by Sen. Miller, which would repeal the discriminatory portions of the civil union law and strengthern protections for faith based organizations. 

• Speak Out about the Equal Access to Marriage Act

  Loving, committed same-sex couples ought to be able to marry in their home state -- surrounded by their friends and family -- and recognized equally by their elected government.

  These couples and their children are today denied the diginity and respect that comes only with marriage.

  Some have tried to say that "civil unions are equal enough" but we all know know the truth.  Civil unions aren't just a separate institution, they are inherrently lessor and unequal.  Everyone knows what marriage is and what it means.  It means you're a family.  But what does a civil union mean?

  Until same-sex couples can marry, Rhode Island has not achieved justice. 

  Reach out to your state legislators and tell them, only marriage is equal.

• Come out to your legislators

  

  It Doesn't have to be National Coming Out Day to COME OUT FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY! Please, take a minute to "come out" to your state legislators about your support for marriage equality. Remind them that ALL Rhode Islanders deserve equal rights, recognition and protection under the law.  Your courage to speak out – today and every day of the year – can spark countless conversations about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality and help change hearts and minds in the Rhode Island General Assembly. IT DOESN'T MATTER if you're LGBTQ or STRAIGHT, it's time to COME OUT!

  Enter your zip code below to take action now!

• Tell Jack Reed it's time to support the Respect for Marriage Act

  It's time to end DOMA

  Watch Pat and Deb's story then sign the petition:
  Tell Jack Reed to support The Respect for Marriage Act

  Rhode Islanders Deb Tevyaw and Pat Baker were married in Massachusetts in 2005.

  Earlier this year, Pat, a correctional officer, was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer and given just months to live. Pat spent the last months of her life as an outspoken proponent of marriage equality legislation. She actively lobbied members of Rhode Island's Congressional delegation to win their support for the Respect for Marriage Act, a bill that would repeal the so-called Defense of Marriage Act.

  Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, Rep. Jim Langevin and Rep. David Cicilline are all co-sponsors of this important civil rights bill. Sen. Jack Reed is the only member of the Rhode Island delegation who has yet to support the bill. He voted for DOMA in 1996 when he was a member of the House. Today, Marriage Equality Rhode Island, Freedom to Marry, the Courage Campaign, and Ocean State Action sent a letter to Sen. Reed and asked him consider being part of the effort to repeal DOMA.

  This video is Pat and Deb in their own words. Pat's portion is taken from testimony she gave at a State House hearing on marriage equality. Deb spoke to MERI shortly after Pat passed away in August.

  Pat and Deb are just one family among thousands in Rhode Island who have been adversely and unjustly impacted by DOMA. Sign the petition below and send a powerful message to Sen. Reed. Tell him it's time to end DOMA and pass the Respect for Marriage Act. 

• Thank Jim Langevin for supporting the Respect for Marriage Act

  

  Rep. Jim Langevin recently said that he will support The Respect for Marriage Act and add his name to the growing list of co-sponsors who are committed to repealing the so-called Defense of Marriage Act. 

  Just a few weeks ago, MERI asked supporters to contact members of our Congressional delegation and tell them that it's time to end DOMA. Jim Langevin heard you loud and clear, and now it's time for us to say thanks. He joins Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse and Rep. David Cicilline as co-sponsors of this important civil rights legislation. 

  Please take a minute and thank Rep. Langevin for responding to your call to action. This is a significant momentum boost for marriage equality supporters and further proof that your efforts are making a real difference!

• Catholics for Equality
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  I am Catholic, and I support marriage equality!