R.I. Lawmakers Chided For Delay In Gay Marriage Vote

[davidinalameda]

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon06/05/051106rima.htm

Gay and lesbian civil rights advocates are stepping up their demands for a State House vote on same-sex marriage.
Last month the House Judiciary Committee held a six-hour hearing on the bill, hearing from gay and lesbian couples and their supporters that the denial of marriage rights is adversely affecting their lives. (story) But leaders in both the house and Senate say a bill that would allow same-sex couples to marry in Rhode Island is unlikely to advance.

William J. Murphy the Speaker of the House, Senate President Joseph A. Montalbano - both Democrats - and Governor Carcieri, a Republican, oppose same-sex marriage.

This week as the House considered a resolution honoring Rhode Island LGBT activist Julia Pell, the daughter of former U.S. Sen. Claiborne Pell, gays hung a banner from the gallery pressing the legislature to vote on the marriage bill.