Rhode Island passed SSM an hour ago, Governor expected to sign within minutes

[Blue3]

Rhode Island now becomes the 10th state to legalize gay marriage, and now all of New England has done so. The House started singing "My Country 'Tis of Thee" immediately after it passed. Weddings can start on August 1st.

It passed about 5:30pm ET, and there's an elaborate ceremony with several speeches on the steps of the Capitol right now. Almost done, Governor Chafee is expected to sign it within minutes.





Governor Chafee's editorial in the NYT (he was once one out of only 4 US Senators who supported gay marriage, and the only Republican):

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/01/opinion/why-i-am-signing-marriage-equality-into-law-in-rhode-island.html




http://www.providencejournal.com/breaking-news/same-sex-marriage/?super_reload=1367531157225

For: 56 (including 2 Republicans)
Against: 15 (including 3 Republicans)
Not Voting: 4 (including 1 Republican)

(The Senate GOP was unanimous in its support)

[Joe Biden 2020]

Pretty nice, Rhode Island!

[Supersonic]

Late to the show Rhode Island, though still good news regardless.

[This user has not been convicted of 34 felonies]

Awesome.

[Joe Biden 2020]

Late to the show Rhode Island, though still good news regardless.

Better late than never

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Now time to primary that awful Teresa Weed bitch.

[Maxwell]

if only the Republicans in Rhode Island position on this issue were the norm for the GOP.

[Bleach Blonde Bad Built Butch Bodies for Biden]

Excellent!  Now every state in New England is a SSM state.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Happy that Rhode Island chose to exercise their state's right to define marriage-and today, they made the right decision.

[Bleach Blonde Bad Built Butch Bodies for Biden]

One should ask, how are the odds this will help Chafee's reelection chances?

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Probably no effect. Both his opponents will likely support it anyway.

[Maxwell]

RuPaul's filibuster must have truly convinced them:

[Marokai Backbeat]

Goddammit, why hasn't RuPaul been elected to office yet? How can we make that happen?

[Antonio the Sixth]

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

Would my state like to step up, please?

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Would my state like to step up, please?

Disgusting human filth infests your governor's mansion unfortunately.

[badgate]

Would my state like to step up, please?

Disgusting human filth infests your governor's mansion unfortunately.

Mary Pat Christie isn't that bad.






It is telling of Christie's current popularity that his SSM veto seems to have been forgotten.

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

Would my state like to step up, please?

Disgusting human filth infests your governor's mansion unfortunately.

There are much worse Republicans than Chris Christie... but his needless pandering to veto our last attempt was a piss poor showing of leadership on an equality issue. 

[memphis]

Remaning states which have neither gay marriage nor a constitutional amendent prohibiting it:
Hawaii
Wyoming
New Mexico
Minnesota
Illinois
Indiana
West Virginia
Pennsylvania
New Jersey

[publicunofficial]

Remaning states which have neither gay marriage nor a constitutional amendent prohibiting it:
Hawaii
Wyoming
New Mexico
Minnesota
Illinois
Indiana
West Virginia
Pennsylvania
New Jersey

Of those, I'd say Illinois and Hawaii could happen by years end through legislative efforts. New Jersey and Minnesota will probably have something by 2016. Pennsylvania & New Mexico won't get anything as long as Martinez/Corbett are in charge. Indiana and West Virginia will probably get cracking on a constitutional ban pretty soon if the SCOTUS doesn't stop them first.

And Wyoming is a mystery.

[Holmes]

Wow. I knew Rhode Island would always be the last New England state. Sometimes I even thought that this day would never come.

[H. Ross Peron]

Remaning states which have neither gay marriage nor a constitutional amendent prohibiting it:
Hawaii
Wyoming
New Mexico
Minnesota
Illinois
Indiana
West Virginia
Pennsylvania
New Jersey

Of those, I'd say Illinois and Hawaii could happen by years end through legislative efforts. New Jersey and Minnesota will probably have something by 2016. Pennsylvania & New Mexico won't get anything as long as Martinez/Corbett are in charge. Indiana and West Virginia will probably get cracking on a constitutional ban pretty soon if the SCOTUS doesn't stop them first.

And Wyoming is a mystery.

Wyoming will probably be one of the last holdouts. I suspect they'll move for a constitutional ban with Indiana and W. Virginia.

[Ogre Mage]

Jump on in, Rhode Island, the water's fine!

[Smash255]

Would my state like to step up, please?

Disgusting human filth infests your governor's mansion unfortunately.

There are much worse Republicans than Chris Christie... but his needless pandering to veto our last attempt was a piss poor showing of leadership on an equality issue. 

Hopefully by now he realizes he has no shot at the GOP nomination so he will do the right thing instead of pandering to the foaming at the mouth Primary crowd.

[Blue3]

Remaning states which have neither gay marriage nor a constitutional amendent prohibiting it:
Hawaii
Wyoming
New Mexico
Minnesota
Illinois
Indiana
West Virginia
Pennsylvania
New Jersey

Of those, I'd say Illinois and Hawaii could happen by years end through legislative efforts. New Jersey and Minnesota will probably have something by 2016. Pennsylvania & New Mexico won't get anything as long as Martinez/Corbett are in charge. Indiana and West Virginia will probably get cracking on a constitutional ban pretty soon if the SCOTUS doesn't stop them first.

And Wyoming is a mystery.

Wyoming will probably be one of the last holdouts. I suspect they'll move for a constitutional ban with Indiana and W. Virginia.

Gay Marriage almost passed out of committee in Wyoming this year.