Marriage Equality RI

Wednesday’s hearing was great - we outnumbered opponents of equality 4:1, and the only young people who testified were there to stand up for equality. At the end of this post is a small news/blog summary if you want to read more about what went on. Interestingly, Rep. Jon Brien, the sponsor of the DOMA amendment, denies that his bill is intended to outlaw marriage equality - rather, he insists that it’s a pulse check of Rhode Islanders….that would write their answers into the Constitution.

He seems convinced that the overwhelming majority of Rhode Islanders would support his amendment - but we know he’s wrong. Take a minute to contact the members of the House Judiciary Committee and let them know you support equality, and call for a vote on the legislation before them. Click Here to take action.

Mini News and Blog Roundup

From the ProJo: “Jenn Steinfeld celebrated an anniversary of sorts in a crowded committee room at the State House last night. For the 10th year running, the executive director of Marriage Equality RI testified in support of same-sex marriage. Change, she said, takes time. But ultimately, it is inevitable. “

ABC6 coverage - and a poll.

365gay.com roundup
TruthSpew has a full summary of the night and evaluation of various testimony.

Am I missing something on your blog or paper? Let me know….

MERI is looking for an experienced field organizer to help direct our grassroots organizing campaign in the coming years. The Field Coordinator is pivotal in engaging community members in our campaign to win equal marriage rights for all Rhode Island couples, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. The Field Coordinator will ensure that volunteers are appropriately engaged in meaningful activities likely to enhance MERI’s grassroots lobbying campaign, aid in the local development of MERI action teams, and seek to engage key business and civic leaders in ways likely to influence legislative support for equal marriage rights.

The ideal candidate will possess the following skills and experience:

• 3 - 5 years organizing experience on political or issue advocacy campaigns, including experience recruiting and organizing volunteers.
• Be an articulate, detail-oriented, diplomatic, organized, and computer-literate;
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills in small groups, one-on-one meetings and public settings;
• Be able to work independently and manage a number of simultaneous projects;
• Be proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel, and the internet;
• Ability to follow directions and meet tight deadlines with excellent attention to detail;
• Ability to multi-task and keep different pieces of the campaign moving forward simultaneously;
• Knowledge or interest in LGBT issues;
• Ability to work long and irregular hours, including some evenings and weekends.

Top-notch “people skills,” including excellent oral and written communication skills, are a must. Proficiency in Spanish is a plus.

Sound like you? Click here for a full job description, and email a resume and cover letter to info [at] MarriageEqualityRI.org by May 22nd.

Yesterday, Mildred Loving - a plaintiff along with her husband, in the historic 1967 case Loving v. Virginia which ended race discrimination in marriage in the United States - passed away. A strong advocate for love in all its forms, Mrs. Loving issued a statement last year in support of marriage equality to mark the 40th anniversary of her historic court case. Excerpts below, the full statement is available here. We will mourn the passing of this remarkable woman whose conviction forever links her name with ending discrimination in marriage.

When my late husband, Richard, and I got married in Washington, DC in 1958, it wasn’t to make a political statement or start a fight. We were in love, and we wanted to be married.

…Not a day goes by that I don’t think of Richard and our love, and how much it meant to me to have that freedom to marry the person precious to me, even if others thought he was the ‘wrong kind of person’ for me to marry. I believe all Americans, no matter their race, no matter their sex, no matter their sexual orientation, should have that same freedom to marry.

…I am proud that Richard’s and my name are on a court case that can help reinforce the love, the commitment, the fairness, and the family that so many people, black or white, young or old, gay or straight, seek in life. I support the freedom to marry for all. That’s what Loving, and loving, are all about.

On Wednesday, the Rhode Island House of Representatives Judiciary Committee will be holding hearings on our equality legislation. This is the best opportunity to have your voice heard, and to stand up for equality.

Please join us at the State House this Wednesday, May 7th, at 4:30 (or whenever you can get there) to tell your story to our elected officials. It is SO important that we show overwhelming support for equality - bring your friends, family, and co-workers along!

If you’ve never attended a hearing before, or want to review the process, I’ve got an overview of what to expect HERE. There are also tips on crafting your testimony. The most important things to remember are to stay focused on what you know - your own story, to stay brief - no more than 3 minutes, and focus on equality – they will be hearing a several bills which both support and oppose equality, and we want to make sure that we continue to ask for full marriage equality.

Also on the agenda is a bill that would put a constitutional amendment banning any recognition of same-sex couples on the November ballot. We need to show a strong united front against writing discrimination into our constitution, so please help us spread the word. If you have any questions or need help crafting your testimony, please don’t hesitate to email me or call me at 401-463-5368 x344. I look forward to hearing your story on Wednesday.

Warmly,
Jenn Steinfeld

We’re down to our last few tickets for MERI’s May 18th benefit showing of Paris by Night at Trinity Rep. Tickets are $50 and include a pre-show reception with cast member Joe Wilson, Jr., at Local 121. Call Nancy Kirsch at 401-463-5368 x339 or email her at nkirsch [at] marriageequalityri.org to purchase tickets.

And if you’re a subscriber, or theatre isn’t your thing, you can join us June 9th at the Wild Colonial Tavern for our next “Eat, Drink, and Be MERI” event. It’s a great bargain - free pool, darts and appetizers for the low price of $10 per person in advance or $15 at the door.

Visit our Events Page for all upcoming events.

Edge Publications has a great profile of freshman State Representative and former MERI chair Frank Ferri.

Rep. Ferri’s presence at the State House makes an every-day difference because his commitment to health care, education and the environment are resonant with everyone, and his presence at the State House familiarizes legislators with married same-sex couples. His best quote:

“I was elected as a openly gay married man who had never run for a prior elected position. I believe that speaks volumes to the advancement of our community and to the greater acceptance by Rhode Islanders and our fight for equality.”

So good, it made the “SmartQuote of the Week” in the national publication Gay and Lesbian Smartbrief.

Gotta love Vermont. First in the nation to provide statewide relationship recognition for same-sex couples back in 2000 - yes, folks, Civil Unions are less than 8 years old - they have just released a report from the Vermont Commission on Family Recognition and Protection, charged with “reviewing and evaluating Vermont’s laws relating to the recognition and protection of same-sex couples and the families they form.”

The Commission, made up primarily of former state legislators, engaged in an exhaustive fact finding effort, including 8 public hearings and a legal issues symposium. I’m still chugging through the whole report, but this quote from Bishop Thomas C. Ely of the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont really stood out for me:

In the reality of our having lived with civil unions in Vermont for seven years now, we know that, as was true with school segregation, so too with civil unions and civil marriage: separate is not equal. Discrimination does continue, and while making provision for marriage equality for all couples here in Vermont will not end the discrimination against gay and lesbian couples in other states and in the federal laws, it will be an important step in the right direction.

The other point I want to emphasize tonight is that providing the civil right of civil marriage to heterosexual and homosexual couples alike would not compel any religious community to perform marriages of same-sex couples. The state allows ordained clergy and certain other designated religious persons to act as agents of the state with regard to civil marriage, but no clergyperson is required by the state to do so. Different religious communities have different theological views on the subject of matrimony. The privilege and religious freedom to express and act upon those convictions is not compromised by the state providing civil marriage and the subsequent civil rights of marriage to all couples. It is my conviction that the church can and should support civil marriage for all - even
if, at this time we are not of one mind about the church’s involvement in these ceremonies. [emphasis mine]

More later….

Yesterday’s lobby day was a success - we confirmed that we will have hearings on all our legislation…..”some time”. The legislature is on break next week, which is a great time to catch up with your legislators in your home district. Why not invite them to have coffee with your family? Send them a photo of your kids on spring break? Have your mom let the know how much she loves her two sons or two daughters? Telling our stories, making connections, and helping legislators see just how many Rhode Islanders support equal marriage is key to changing their hearts and minds.

To find your state legislators and how to reach them, go to the Secretary of State’s Voter Information Center.

No one likes filing their taxes, but for same-sex couples the issues are much more complex. Imputed income for health insurance, dummy returns because the Feds don’t recognize marriages between same-sex couples, concerns about the accuracy of W2s….the list goes on and on. And when it comes to planning for the future - inheritance, social security, and all the other factors that render same-sex couples invisible - a strong plan is a must.

The Human Rights Campaign is running an informational campaign in this last week before tax day, called “Seven Days to a Better Financial You”, which has tips for same-sex couples to ensure they are provided for in the future. Check it out here.

MERI will be holding a lobby day today at 3:30 at the State House, to ensure that we get hearings on our legislation this year. Please help ensure that the Compassion for All Families Act (H 7711 and S 2737), equal divorce legislation (H 7939 and S 2713), and the freedom to marry (H 7839 and S 2204) get the hearings they deserve this year, and support our lobby day, by contacting your legislators today. Click here to email your state Senator and Representative to secure hearings for equality.