Rhode Island

Rhode Island House Speaker Gordon Fox has repeated his promise to bring a gay marriage bill to a vote next year. Following the defeat of several high-profile pro-gay marriage candidates during Tuesday's Democratic primary, Rhode Island House Speaker Gordon D. Fox has repeated his promise to bring a gay marriage bill to a vote next year. The Democratic contest between Senator Michael J. McCaffrey and openly gay challenger Laura Pisaturo was widely seen as a referendum on gay marriage. McCaffrey, who opposes marriage equality and heads the Senate Judiciary Committee in charge of considering bills related to the issue, defeated his rival to move on to the general election. But Fox noted gains in the House, and reiterated his pledge. ?Speaker Fox has repeatedly stated that he will bring marriage equality for a vote in the House in the 2013 session,? Fox spokesman Larry Berman told WPRI. ?Several pro-marriage candidates were elected yesterday and that strengthens Speaker Fox's vote in the H

Rhode Island Congressman David Cicilline on Tuesday defeated businessman Anthony Gemma to win the Democratic nomination. Rhode Island Congressman David Cicilline on Tuesday defeated businessman Anthony Gemma to capture the Democratic nomination. Cicilline received 61 percent of the vote with 98 percent of precincts reporting, while his challenger received 31 percent. A third candidate, Chris Young, claimed 8 percent. Cicilline is one of only four openly gay House members, two of whom will not be returning next year. Massachusetts Representative Barney Frank is not running for re-election and Wisconsin Representative Tammy Baldwin is running for the Senate. Cicilline will face in the general election Republican Brenda Doherty, a retired high-ranking police officer and former superintendent of Rhode Island's Department of Public Safety. ?We're pleased that Rhode Island Democrats have once again chosen David Cicilline to represent them in Congress,? said Chuck Wolfe, CEO of the Gay & Lesb

He was the voice of a generation. Now he barely talks. But music icon Bob Dylan, who releases his 35th album this week half a century after his first, is still going strong.

He was the voice of a generation. Now he barely talks. But music icon Bob Dylan, who releases his 35th album this week half a century after his first, is still going strong.

The group People for Rhode Island's Future is working to elect a pro-gay marriage majority to the General Assembly. ?The group People for Rhode Island's Future is working to elect a pro-gay marriage majority to the Rhode Island General Assembly. The nascent group has the backing of millionaire philanthropist Tim Gill, who on Sunday gave $20,000 to the group. Another $15,000 came from Esmond Harmsworth, a founding partner of Boston-based literary agency Zachary Shuster Harmsworth Literary Agency and owner of the Four Winds estate. People for Rhode Island's Future is targeting for ouster 5 current state senators opposed to gay marriage ? Frank Lombardi, Marc Cote, Michael McCaffrey and Dan DaPonte ? and supporting the re-election of Rep. Roberto DaSilva, Newsport's WPRI reported. All six elected officials are democrats. The group is also supporting five additional pro-gay marriage candidates, and opposing one other who is opposed to marriage equality. Gill, who is gay and lives in Denver

Rhode Island Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed declines to say whether she will allow a vote on a gay marriage bill next year. Rhode Island Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed on Wednesday declined to say whether she would allow a vote on a gay marriage bill in the upcoming legislative session. House Speaker Gordon Fox earlier said that he would call a vote on the legislation, if he retains his position. ?I'm calling the vote,? Fox, an openly gay Democrat, said on WPRI's Newsmakers. ?It's one of those issues that I need to come back, we need to address, and I intend if I'm elected speaker to address it early.? ?It's one of the main reasons I'm coming back. There's unfinished business,? he said. The General Assembly ended its 2012 session without taking up debate on bills related to gay marriage. One such bill sought to legalize marriage equality. According to the AP, Paiva Weed, a Newport Democrat and an opponent of gay nuptials, is keeping silent. Last week, the American Civil Liberti

Several GOP delegates working on the 2012 Republican Platform backed adding support for civil unions. Several GOP delegates working on the 2012 Republican Platform backed adding support for civil unions. Barbara Ann Fenton, a 31-year-old delegate from Rhode Island, formally made the suggestion last week as Republicans meeting in Tampa hammered out the document in committee. ?As a Roman Catholic, there's nobody in this room who believes [more than I do] that the definition of marriage is between one man and one woman, but those are my religious beliefs,? Fenton said in making the motion. ?This country was founded on the separation of church and state.? ?For my own generation, a lot of times homosexuality is not the biggest deal in the world. And that's OK.? Several people spoke up to ?second? her motion. ?I'm from New England, where support for gay couples is really old news,? said Themis Klarides, a state representative from Connecticut who backed Fenton's motion. ?This speaks to the h

Only 68 gay and lesbian couples obtained licenses for civil unions in Rhode Island since the law took effect last year. Only 68 gay and lesbian couples obtained licenses for civil unions in Rhode Island since the law took effect last year. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) announced the number on Monday, saying it shows that gay couples in the Ocean State are waiting for full marriage. ?A year's worth of data make it abundantly clear that gay and lesbian couples have emphatically said 'I don't!' to the civil union law,? Steven Brown, executive director of the ACLU of Rhode Island, said in a statement. The ACLU noted that interest for civil unions has been much higher in similarly populated states, including Hawaii, where 106 licenses were issued in the first month that a civil union law took effect there. Rhode Island borders three states where gay marriage is legal ? Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York ? and anticipation was high last year that it would join the ranks of i

Delaware Governor Jack Markell has said he expects the state will consider legalizing gay marriage next year. ?Delaware Governor Jack Markell has said he expects the state will consider legalizing gay marriage next year. ?I think it probably will,? Markell told The Huffington Post's Amanda Terkel and Sam Stein. The Democratic governor strongly supported last year's effort legalizing civil unions in the state. Markell said he was willing to offer similar support for a gay marriage bill before praising the contributions of Equality Delaware, a group which formed specifically to lobby in favor of civil unions. ?I think it's always important to have gubernatorial leadership, but the other thing it's very helpful to have ? the real hero of getting civil unions done [in Delaware] ? was not me,? he said. ?The real hero and heroine were a couple of people who led a group called Equality Delaware.? ?The grassroots efforts can be so powerful. So there was a group of people ? many of them gay or

Archeologists have uncovered a 1,600-year-old Mayan temple dedicated to the "night sun" atop a pyramid tomb in the northern Guatemalan forest near the border with Mexico.

Supporters of gay marriage in Rhode Island are out to transform the composition of the state Senate before next year's planned vote. Supporters of gay marriage in Rhode Island are out to transform the composition of the state Senate before next year's planned vote on legislation legalizing such unions. The group Fight Back RI is targeting a ?small cadre of legislators? it believes are holding back passage of a gay marriage bill. ?I think pro-equality candidates are going to have a significant impact on the 2012 elections and fundamentally change the composition of the state Senate come 2013,? Ray Sullivan, campaign director for Fight Back RI, told GoLocalProv.com. The Rhode Island General Assembly in 2011 approved and Governor Lincoln Chafee signed a civil unions law. House Speaker Gordon Fox, who is openly gay, came under heavy criticism from advocates for abandoning a marriage equality bill in favor of civil unions. Fox explained that the marriage bill was doomed in the Senate becaus

Turned down for a bank loan but determined to get her knitting book business off the ground, Shannon Okey joined the growing ranks of entrepreneurs raising start-up money online.

Chrysler has appointed a representative of the United Auto Workers union to its board of directors, the automaker said Thursday.

The Rhode Island General Assembly ended its 2012 session without taking up debate on bills related to gay marriage. The Rhode Island General Assembly ended its 2012 session without taking up debate on bills related to gay marriage. One such bill, sponsored by Democratic Rep. Arthur Handy in the House and Senator Rhoda Perry in the Senate, sought to legalize marriage equality in the state. Rhode Island lawmakers last year abandoned efforts to approve a gay marriage bill in favor of civil unions over the loud objections of many gay rights activists. Governor Lincoln Chafee signed civil unions into law but added that he supports equal marriage rights for gay couples. A second bill would have allowed gay residents who traveled outside of the state to marry to divorce in Rhode Island. Lawmakers never voted on the measure. A bright spot, however, came last month when Chafee signed an executive order which recognizes the out-of-state marriages of gay and lesbian couples. The order is signific

Sheena Monnin, Miss Pennsylvania USA, has resigned in protest of transgender contestants. Sheena Monnin, Miss Pennsylvania USA, has resigned in protest of transgender contestants. Monnin stepped down from her post this week, just days after Olivia Culpo, a 20-year-old cellist from Rhode Island, was crowned Miss USA. During the contest's interview round, Culpo embraced the Miss Universe Organization's recent policy change allowing transgender contestants. ?Would you feel it would be fair that a transgender woman wins the Miss USA title over a natural-born woman?? a follower on Twitter asked. ?I do think that that would be fair, but I can understand that people would be a little apprehensive to take that road because there is a tradition of natural-born women, but today where there are so many surgeries and so many people out there who have a need to change for a happier life, I do accept that because I believe it's a free country,? Culpo answered. In her resignation letter, Monnin, 27,

Donald Trump, head of the Miss Universe Organization, vowed a lawsuit against beauty Sheena Monnin on Wednesday after she declared the recent Miss USA contest was rigged.

House Democrats will host a fundraiser toasting the 25th anniversary of Massachusetts Rep. Barney Frank's coming out gay. House Democrats will host a fundraiser toasting the 25th anniversary of Massachusetts Rep. Barney Frank's coming out gay. The 72-year-old Frank came out in 1987 at the age of 47, becoming the first member of Congress to voluntarily announce his sexual orientation. He is currently one of four openly gay House members, including Representatives Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, Jared Polis of Colorado and David Cicilline of Rhode Island. According to The Hill, the reception will take place next Wednesday on the rooftop of El Centro DF restaurant and is being hosted by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) Chairman Steve Israel. ?Barney is an inspiration to all of us as one of the first openly gay congressmen to serve in the House,? wrote Polis in an email announcing the reception. ?This event will be particularly moving fo

RI Senator Frank Ciccone has introduced a joint resolution which would overturn an order recognizing out-of-state gay marriages. Rhode Island state Senator Frank Ciccone has introduced a joint resolution which would overturn an executive order signed Monday by Governor Lincoln Chafee which recognizes the out-of-state marriages of gay and lesbian couples. Rhode Island began recognizing such unions in 2007 at the direction of then-state Attorney General Patrick Lynch. However, his opinion to state officials does not have the force of law. Chafee's order makes it clear that the state recognizes the marriages of gay couples as valid. Ciccone, a Democrat from Providence, submitted his resolution on Thursday. He told the Providence Journal that the Rhode Island Supreme Court's 2007 ruling on gay divorce and the General Assembly's passage last year of a civil unions law spells out the state's ?public policy? on the subject. Ciccone also reintroduced a bill which would put marriage equality up

Gay marriage celebrates its 8th anniversary in Massachusetts on Thursday. Gay marriage celebrates its 8th anniversary in Massachusetts on Thursday. It was on May 17, 2004 that celebrations erupted in town halls across Massachusetts as the first gay and lesbian couples legally exchanged vows after the state Supreme Court ruled a gay marriage ban unconstitutional. The scenes were cheerful as hundreds of well wishers rushed to witness history unfold before their eyes. According to the group MassEquality, 18,462 gay couples have wed in the state since 2004. The anniversary comes as President Barack Obama earlier this month declared his support for gay marriage. In Provincetown, the gay mecca of New England, the legalization of gay marriage has created a booming gay wedding cottage industry. But there have been rocky moments along the way. Years of hand wringing followed the court's decision as gay marriage foes fought to amend the state Constitution to re-ban gay marriage. In 2007, lawmake

Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee on Monday signed an executive order recognizing the out-of-state marriages of gay couples. An elated Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee on Monday signed an executive order recognizing the out-of-state marriages of gay and lesbian couples. Rhode Island began recognizing such unions in 2007 at the direction of then-state Attorney General Patrick Lynch. However, his opinion to state officials does not have the force of law. ?Despite the long-standing Rhode Island law respecting out-of-state marriages and a formal 2007 opinion from the attorney general that this law applies to same-sex marriage, there remains a great deal of confusion and inconsistency within state departments and agencies regarding the recognition of out-of-state marriages,? Chafee told those attending the signing ceremony. ?Far too many Rhode Island couples have encountered problems with the state failing to consistently recognize the validity of their marriage, causing unnecessary