I
am always proud to be a Rhode Islander, but never more so than
today.
After
yesterday’s Judiciary Committee vote, I expressed my hope that the full Rhode
Island Senate would pass a bill that chooses tolerance and fairness over
division and discrimination. In passing the Marriage Equality Act, they have
done just that.
I
thank the Senators who have taken a stand to move Rhode Island forward and
commend the Senate President for calling the roll. Great credit should go to Ray
Sullivan, everyone at Rhode Islanders United for Marriage, and the countless
volunteers who knocked on doors and participated in phone banks. Finally, I want
to applaud the pioneers, such as the late Julie Pell, who for decades have
fought for the fundamental rights of gay and lesbian Rhode Islanders. This day
would not have been possible without their efforts.
Pending
the final vote by the House of Representatives, Rhode Island will no longer be
an outlier in our region. We will have the welcome mat out. We will be open for
business, and we will once again affirm our legacy as a place that is tolerant
and appreciative of diversity.
