Rhode Island Gov. Signs Marriage Equality Bill
Rhode Island Gov. Signs Marriage Equality Bill
Immediately after the state House of Representatives approved the Marriage Equality Act, Gov. Lincoln Chafee signed the legislation into law.
BY Sunnivie Brydum
May 02 2013
Rhode Island became the tenth U.S. state to embrace marriage equality, following a procedural vote in the House of Representatives, and independent Gov. Lincoln Chafee's signature on the Marriage Equality Act today.
The affirmative House vote was a foregone conclusion, as the chamber approved an earlier version of the legislation in January, according to the Associated Press. The state Senate approved the bill on April 24 by a vote of 26-12. Marriage equality could take effect as by August 1, reports AP.
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"I personally feel that Rhode Island is a better state, and America is a better country, when we are as inclusive as possible," wrote Chafee. "I have been heartened in recent months to see members of my old party coming around on marriage equality, including the entire Republican caucus in the Rhode Island Senate — the first time a caucus of either party has been unanimous in its support. That reflects sound political judgment, and some values that are at least as Republican as they are Democratic, including a belief in marriage as an institution and a desire to keep government out of our personal lives."
Rhode Island was the last state in New England to establish marriage equality, and the tenth state in the nation, in addition to Washington, D.C., to extend marriage rights to same-sex couples. Gay and lesbian couples can begin marrying as early as August 1, reports AP.
http://www.advocate.com/politics/marriage-equality/2013/05/02/rhode-island-gov-signs-marriage-equality-bill
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Thanks for posting this! 
