Key Senate panel backs same-sex marriage in RI

[brooklynite]

Source: WPRI

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - Rhode Island moved another step closer to legalizing same-sex marriage on Tuesday as a key legislative panel approved a bill that would allow gays and lesbians to wed in the state.

The 10-member Senate Judiciary Committee voted 7-4 to pass a reworked bill sponsored by Sen. Donna Nesselbush, D-Pawtucket, and favored by advocates of same-sex marriage. The 11th vote was cast by Senate Majority Leader Dominick Ruggerio, D-Providence, who used his optional right to vote ex officio.

The Senate bill would allow gay weddings in Rhode Island beginning on Aug. 1.

Senate leaders didn't waste time in scheduling a vote by the full chamber. The 38 senators will vote Wednesday on Nesselbush's same-sex marriage bill during a session that will start at 4 p.m., Senate spokesman Greg Pare told WPRI.com after the committee vote.

Read more: http://www.wpri.com/dpp/news/politics/state_politics/key-senate-panel-oks-same-sex-marriage?4

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Gotta say, I thought Illinois would get there first.

[NutmegYankee]

1. That's the last state in New England that hasn't made it legal.

[David__77]

2. Excellent.

There's definitely a consolidation of establishment opinion for marriage equality, in principle. I'm skeptical, because I know that there is still a tremendous, muted opposition. Nonetheless, the establishment of one of the two major parties as firmly pro-gay rights (finally) will move things along very far in a short period of time.