TALKING POLITICS RI proponents renew push for gay marriage BY BRIAN C. JONES

Rhode Island advocates of same-sex marriage are proposing what they hope will be the nation’s first state law allowing gay couples to wed. The introduction of twin bills in the House and the Senate takes place against the backdrop of two sharply different developments in other states — 1) the passage of anti-same-sex constitutional amendments in 11 states last November; and 2) legalized marriage between gays in neighboring Massachusetts, thanks to a court ruling, and adoption of "civil union" procedures in Vermont.

Whether what’s happened in the other states will impact the Rhode Island effort isn’t clear. Following the election, some political observers wondered whether the powerful emotions triggered by gay marriage cemented the "Massachusetts liberal" image of US Senator John F. Kerry, helping to seal his loss in the presidential race. At the same time, the constitutional amendments on the ballot in such states as Ohio are believed to have helped turn out conservative voters in a close election that gave President George W. Bush a second term.

Representative Arthur Handy (D-Cranston), a lead sponsor of this year’s House bill, thinks all the discussion of gay marriage could work to the measure’s favor, increasing understanding of the issue. But Handy says much will depend on how effective advocates of same-sex marriage are in reaching out to the General Assembly.

Jenn Steinfeld, chair of the advocacy group Marriage Equality in Rhode Island, says supporters plan a classic grassroots campaign, hoping to field 15 teams to lobby legislators at the State House. "It’s really important that legislators know, that in every corner of the state, that people support equal marriage rights, and that people want to see the legislature end discrimination," Steinfeld says.

Steinfeld says advocates understand "we do have a lot of work ahead of us." In fact, she says, this is the seventh year in which legislation has been introduced relating to the legal rights of couples. Identical bills to those filed this year failed to get out of committee during the 2004 session, she says.

Still, gay rights have made progress in Rhode Island. The orientation of Providence Mayor David N. Cicilline, who is gay, proved to not be a factor during his highly successful 2002 campaign, and House Majority Leader Gordon D. Fox (D-Providence) last year revealed that he is gay.

And according to the Marriage Equality Web site (www.campaignformarriageequality.com), Rhode Island has enacted key legislation in the past, including laws that allow people to designate non-relatives to visit in hospitals and to make funeral arrangements. In 1995, Rhode Island outlawed discrimination in housing and employment on the basis of sexual orientation.

State Senator Rhoda E. Perry (D-Providence), also a lead sponsor of the gay marriage legislation, says supporters are "really focused, and determined that the people of Rhode Island will see a need for fairness as it relates to marriage."

As to the constitutional bans in other states, Perry says that some of those votes were close, that other states may take steps promoting the issue, and in any case, supporters have to concentrate on the challenge in Rhode Island. "I think if we allowed negative happenings to affect our enthusiasm," Perry says, "we’d never get anywhere and we wouldn’t have any civil rights initiatives."

State law is actually silent on the matter of same-gender marriage, and the pending bills don’t explicitly provide for gay marriage.

Instead, the proposals spell out a long list of prohibited incestuous marriage combinations — "no person shall marry his or her parent, grandparent, child . . . " — allowing all others to marry. "Rhode Island would be the first state to make a legislative decision to pass same gender marriage," Steinfeld says. "I really want to see our legislature end discrimination, and support all loving and committed families with the security that only marriage brings."