Tomorrow: Rhode Island House Committee To Hear Marriage Bills

Tomorrow the Rhode Island House of Representatives Judiciary Committee will hear two bills on marriage. One bill proposes a statewide referendum on same-sex unions.

The meeting is scheduled Wednesday, May 13, at the rise of the House session (around 4:45 p.m.) in Room 313 on the third floor of the State House. Scheduled for a hearing is a bill (2009-H 5744) sponsored by Rep. Arthur Handy (D-Dist. 18, Cranston) to broaden the definition of persons eligible to marry to include persons of the same gender. It also provides that members of the clergy would not be required to officiate at any particular marriage. Also scheduled is a bill (2009-H 5068) sponsored by Rep. Jon D. Brien (D-Dist. 50, Woonsocket) to submit to the electors a proposition to amend the state constitution to define marriage as a lawful union between one man and one woman.

Rhode Island is the most heavily Catholic state in the country and little progress on marriage equality is expected there in the short term.