Marriage Equality (H 7753, H 7845)

Casting aside the disappointing outcome of 2011’s marriage equality legislation, advocates returned this year with the marriage equality bill, sponsored again by Representative Art Handy.  The ACLU and other marriage equality groups continue to advocate for full marriage equality, especially in light of the dismal failure of civil unions in Rhode Island.  Legislation introduced by Representative Frank Ferri also sought to restore the equality suppressed in the civil unions law, calling for the repeal of the so-called “Corvese amendment”, which allows religious organizations or individuals to refuse to recognize the legality of a couple’s civil union in any circumstances.  Neither bill moved out of committee.