Posts Tagged equal marriage
A Beautiful Letter in Support of Equal Marriage
One of MERI’s facebook friends just left a note about this wonderful letter he wrote to the Senate on behalf of marriage equality. Thank you Scott!
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I am an Episcopal priest serving at Christ Church in Lincoln. I am writing to urge your support and passage of S-0147, enabling same-sex marriage in Rhode Island.
As a religious leader, I view marriage as a sacred covenant between two people before God, in which their mutual love is manifest. In the Episcopal Church’s Book of Common Prayer, the first purpose of marriage is described as “for their mutual joy.” Two men or two women who share a committed relationship should be able to enjoy the same protections and benefits that I enjoy in my marriage of sixteen years to a wonderful woman.
From the news coverage, it seems that religious objections are foremost among those who resist passage of this bill. Proponents of a same-sex marriage ban cite “biblical marriage” or “freedom of religion” in their statements. Firstly, the Bible is hardly supportive of marriage as it is now understood in this country. In the Old Testament, women were viewed as property to be exchanged among men, and there is no sense of mutuality in marriage. Polygamy is normative in the Old Testament; concubines are acceptable. In the New Testament, St. Paul is skeptical of marriage — suggesting that it is better to be unmarried. Jesus himself says nothing about marriage, other than to insist that divorce is to be avoided when possible, because of the consequences to women in ancient Palestinian culture. In other words, there simply is no biblical justification that applies in this matter.
In terms of religious freedom, the bill specifically prevents any minister or church from being compelled to perform marriage. This is unchanged from the current law, secular and religious. When I meet with couples who seek marriage, I am currently allowed to refuse to marry them for any reason or for no reason. Under S-0147, this will not change. In other words, the bill preserves the same freedom of religious exercise that we now enjoy.
Why do I support same-sex marriage? I believe that in our culture of self-interest, we should support any strengthening and broadening of an institution which will encourage people to make familial commitments. If two men or two women love each other, our whole society benefits from their mutual promise to support one another and, when it is God’s will, to raise children in a loving home.
There are practical reasons to support passage of this bill — healthcare decisions, access to hospitals for visits, property inheritance, and arrangements at the time of death. But these practical matters are less important to me, and I suspect to those who would seek marriage. Most important is the ability for everyone to enjoy the same things that I enjoy — the institution of marrage, in which mutual love and support is expressed and manifest.
I hope you pass this bill. In Massachusetts, once they had access to same-sex marriage, we have not seen walls crumble or people swallowed up by the earth. Rather, we have seen ordinary people able to enjoy ordinary marriage and extraordinary love and support for one another.
Peace,
Scott+
4 comments February 27, 2009
Thank you to those that came to last night’s hearings!
Thank you to all that came to last night’s hearings and waited the many hours to be heard. We were overjoyed by the number of marriage equal supporters that lined up to speak. Your stories, both joyful and sorrowful, are the greatest tool we have to win.
Please take a few minutes to take part in the Providence Journal Poll “Should same sex couples be allowed to marry in Rhode Island?” that is running as part of their coverage on last night’s hearing.
Whether you spoke last night or not, we encourage everyone to please send their testimony and statements of support to the members of the Senate Judiciary committee. It is vitally important that we not only appear in person, but that we write letters in support to the committee. Contact information below.
From the Projo: “As of yesterday’s the lawmakers had received 21 letters supporting the bill co-sponsored by Sens. Rhoda Perry, Susan Sosnowski, Juan Pichardo, Joshua Miller and Charles Levesque to allow same-sex marriage, and 83 in favor of the same-sex marriage ban proposed by Sen. Leo Blais, R-Coventry.”
ProJo Coverage
Marriage Bill Returns (ProJo)
More sponsors sign on to same-sex marriage bill (ProJo)
Please find the committee’s contact information below:
Perry, Rhoda (D) – District 03
751-7165 | sen-perry@rilin.state.ri.us
Blais, Leo (R) – District 21
222-2708 | sen-blais@rilin.state.ri.us
Goodwin, Maryellen (D) – District 1
272-3102 | sen-goodwin@rilin.state.ri.us
Jabour, Paul (D) – District 05
751-3300 | sen-jabour@rilin.state.ri.us
Levesque, Charles (D) – District 11, Vice-Chair
683-9194 | sen-levesque@rilin.state.ri.us
Lynch, Erin (D) – District 31
739-8500 | sen-lynch@rilin.state.ri.us
Maselli, Christopher (D) – District 25
764-0086 | sen-maselli@rilin.state.ri.us
Mc Burney, John (D) – District 15
725-2459 | sen-mcburney@rilin.state.ri.us
McCaffrey, Michael (D) – District 29, Chair
739-7576 | sen-mccaffrey@rilin.state.ri.us
Metts, Harold (D) – District 06
272-0112 | sen-metts@rilin.state.ri.us
Senate Leadership
President Teresa Paiva-Weed (D) – District
222-3310 | weed@rilin.state.ri.us
Majority Leader Dan Connors (D) – District 19
728-0828 | sen-connors@rilin.state.ri.us
1 comment February 27, 2009
Lamda Legal Argues Same-Sex Hospital Visitation Lawsuit
Miami Hospital Tries To Block Lawsuit In Hospital Visitation Case
It’s hard to believe that in this day a hospital will block someone from seeing their partner, especially when all of the medical powers of attorney paperwork are in place and properly signed and notarized. It’s harder still to believe that such a hospital would continue to defend its inhuman policies.
The case began in February 2007, when Janice Langbehn and her partner Lisa Marie Pond, with three of their four children, were in Miami, Florida preparing for a cruise to celebrate their eighteenth anniversary. But before the cruise could leave port, Lisa Marie suffered a massive stroke and was taken to Jackson Memorial. Hospital personnel refused to let Langbehn into Pond’s hospital room, even after a legal power of attorney was faxed to the hospital. Pond was pronounced dead of a brain aneurysm about eighteen hours after being admitted to the hospital. The only time Langbehn was allowed to see her partner was when a priest was giving her last rites.
February 9, 2009
MERI APPLAUDS FORMER U.S. REP. BOB BARR
(Cranston, RI) Now that the author of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) has reversed his opinion, Marriage Equality RI calls for this discriminatory law to be repealed.
The former U.S. Rep from Georgia and 2008 Libertarian party’s nominee for President has come to realize that the intention of his legislation in 1996, which was to meet principles of federalism, never materialized. Federalism calls for federal, state and local governments to interact cooperatively and collectively to solve common problems, rather than creating policies separately or clashing over a policy in a system dominated by the federal government.
In Barr’s LA Times editorial (January 5, 2009), he stated, “In effect, DOMA’s language reflects one-way federalism: It protects only those states that don’t want to accept a same-sex marriage granted by another state. Moreover, the heterosexual definition of marriage for purposes of federal laws… has become a de facto club used to limit, if not thwart, the ability of a state to choose to recognize same-sex unions… It is time to get the federal government out of the marriage business. In law and policy, such decisions should be left to the people themselves.”
Barr also echoes President-elect Obama’s 2006 vote against the proposed Federal Marriage Amendment (also referred to as the Marriage Protection Amendment), which defines marriage as union of one man and one woman. Barr further stated, “He (Obama) was right then; and as I have come to realize, he is right now in concluding that DOMA has to go.”
“The federal DOMA has long been an unfair strangler of state’s rights and Marriage Equality RI calls on Congress to repeal this law,” said Susan Heroux, MERI Board Chair. “This law has a direct negative effect on married same-sex couples living and working in RI who are forced to take actions such as filing their taxes under the single category… This law causes a legal nightmare for those of us who are married because our marriages are recognized on the state level but not the federal level. DOMA has always been used to discriminate against gay people and it is time for it to go.”
Recently re-elected Rep. Frank Ferri, the first openly gay, married R.I. state legislator commented, “DOMA’s purpose was to directly prevent U.S. citizens from their inalienable rights guaranteed by the constitution. Fortunately the backers of this legislation are now realizing the damage that such laws have on the foundation of our great nation. “
Hans Johnson, President of Progressive Victory and a contributing editor to In These Times magazine, recently noted, “Conservative opposition to marriage equality continues to crumble. The ferocity of extremists who insist on intruding into the lives of committed same-sex couples and denying basic equality to gay people is turning some true conservatives into allies.”
January 19, 2009
Love Stories: Pam Brightman and Essjay Foulkrod
“In their Oakland Beach bungalow, above the sofa where Pam Brightman and Essjay Foulkrod sit, hangs a print. It’s titled “Confidences,” by Harry Wilson Watrous (1857-1940). On the frame is a little gold plaque bearing the inscription: “A little talk there was of me and thee … ” from The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam…”
Read Pam and Essjay’s Love Story on the Providence Journal website.
January 19, 2009
Save the Date: Saying “I Do!” on Nov. 14th
Saying “I Do!”
Celebrate the Victory Next Door;
Forge Ahead for Marriage Equality in Rhode Island
On Friday November 14 at the RISD Auditorium in Providence, Rhode Island, the Marriage Equality Rhode Island Education Fund (MERIEF) will host a celebration of the recent landmark decision in Connecticut allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry featuring the Rhode Island premiere of the newly released documentary, Saving Marriage.
The movie premier will be free and open to the public; donations welcome.
Doors open at 7:30pm.
RSVP on Facebook at the Saying “I Do” Invite Page
Help us get the word out by posting flyers in your neighborhood.
For a limited number of advance donations of $25 or more per person you will receive reserved “I Do!” seating; tickets to a pre-show reception from 6:30-7:30p with GLAD, Love Makes A Family and key participants in the CT decision; a chance to win a pair of Orchestra tickets to see the new Adam Bock comedy, “The Receptionist” at Trinity Rep Theatre on January 11, 2009; hors’doeuvres, and a champagne toast.
To reserve “I Do” tickets contact Susan MacNeil at 401-463-5368, x339 or via Email
Trailer for Saving Marriage:
5 comments November 12, 2008
Join Us in Saying “I Do!” on Nov. 14th
Planning to attend Saying “I Do!”?
Let us know at our all new Facebook Saying “I Do!” Event Page.
October 28, 2008
MERI Press Release on CT Supreme Court Victory
PRESS RELEASE
Connecticut Supreme Court Finds in Favor of Same-Sex Marriage
Rhode Island is now an “Island of Inequality” surrounded by states that treat
gay and lesbian citizens equally when it comes to the civil right of marriage.
Cranston – Rhode Island is now surrounded by states that allow same-sex couples access to civil marriage. Left out are gay and lesbian citizens living in the Ocean State.
“Marriage Equality Rhode Island is very excited to see that our gay and lesbian neighbors in Connecticut now have access to all of the rights and responsibilities of civil marriage. We remain saddened for our own gay and lesbian citizens who do not have that civil right here at home,” said Susan Heroux, chairperson of the Marriage Equality Rhode Island Education Fund Board of Directors (MERI).
“Rhode Island has become an island of inequality surrounded by states that treat their gay and lesbian citizens with dignity and respect by affording them an equal right to marry. Marriage is a significant social status and provides security that gay and lesbian Rhode Islanders deserve to have as human beings. It’s time for Rhode Island to catch up to its neighbors in this important civil rights area. We call on Rhode Island’s Legislators and the Governor to change the law to allow us civil marriage and keep Rhode Island on the forefront of civil rights,” she said.
The ruling comes from a suit (Kerrigan & Mock et all v. Connecticut Department of Public Health) filed by Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) on behalf of seven gay and lesbian Connecticut couples who were denied marriage licenses in Madison, CT. Connecticut is the second state in New England—and the third in the United States—to swing open the doors to true equality for lesbian and gay couples.
“Today’s victory fulfills the hopes and dreams of gay and lesbian families to live as full and equal citizens in Connecticut,” says GLAD attorney Bennett Klein. “Marriage is unparalleled in the dignity, respect and protection it gives families.”
Plaintiffs Beth Kerrigan and Jodie Mock expressed their joy at hearing the decision: “We are overjoyed to tell our twin boys that we will be married, just like their friends’ parents. We are profoundly grateful to live in a state which recognizes our equality.”
October 10, 2008
