Monday, May 2, 2011

Rhode Island House Speaker ends marriage effort

Saying a pending marriage equality bill did not have enough support to become law, openly gay Rhode Island House Speaker Gordon Fox this week announced he will instead support an effort to pass a civil unions bill that offers the same benefits the state grants to married couples

"I am the Speaker of the House and I am an openly gay man. This is very emotional for me. But as speaker, I understand counting votes and what I can deliver for all of us. And I believe I am delivering rights to us today," Fox said. Some Democratic officials who did not support the marriage-equality bill, including the president of the State Senate, said they supported Fox's effort to pass a civil unions law.