Rhode Island Becomes 10th State to Legalize Same-Sex Marriage

By Laura Taylor
RhodeIsland.gif
Rhode Island passes gay marriage Antonio Antonio/Getty Images

Rhode Island ratified Thursday same-sex marriage bill after Gov. Lincoln Chafee signed the bill into law, following a final 56-15 vote in the State House. The 10th state that legalized gay marriage will have its first same-sex wedding on Aug. 1, when the law takes effect.

"I know that you have been waiting for this day to come," Chafee said to the gay and lesbian community at a bill-signing ceremony in front of hundreds. "I know you have loved ones that dreamed this would happen but did not live to see it. But I am proud to say that now at long last, you are free to marry the person you love."

All six New England states now allow same-sex marriage; Rhode Island failed to pass the gay marriage bill for nearly 20 years because of its heavily Roman Catholic background.

The legalization of the bill in the conservative state came after gay marriage supporters were elected to General Assembly and advocates mounted an aggressive lobbying effort.

A day before the bill passed, the National Organization for Marriage called on the House to reject the legislation, which they say contains "a shocking lack of religious liberty protections, potentially ghettoizing people of faith unless they compromise and remain silent in the public square."

"When marriage is redefined into a genderless institution, it presents a range of legal conflicts for people of faith and the small businesses and charitable organizations they operate to serve the public," Christopher Plante, regional director for the organization, said in a statement.

Delaware could be the next state to approve gay marriage. Legislation legalizing same-sex marriage has narrowly passed the Delaware House and now awaits a vote in the state Senate.

  • North America Chinese Evangelical Seminary year-end report highlights significant ministry progress

    North America Chinese Evangelical Seminary year-end report highlights significant ministry progress

    As the year draws to a close, Rev. James Liu, President of the Chinese Evangelical Seminary North America (CESNA), reflected on the seminary’s remarkable growth and ministry development over the past year. Dedicated to providing theological education to Chinese Christians, CESNA continues to uphold its mission to remain faithful to the gospel and nurture believers. This year’s achievements span academic, ministerial, and outreach endeavors, fostering spiritual growth and advancing missionary wo

  • Woman pastor analyzes: How Chinese gender culture shapes female ministers’ roles in churches

    In traditional Chinese culture, deeply ingrained notions of gender roles, often expressed as "male strong, female weak," significantly influence the position of women in society and the church. This issue is particularly pertinent for female pastors navigating their roles in ministry. Rev. Dora Wang, Ph.D., from China Evangelical Seminary North America (CESNA), recently addressed this topic in a seminar, sharing her insights on the challenges women face in ministry and proposing strategies to su

  • 4th Christian art biennale in Hong Kong concluding with record reception

    The fourth Christian Art Biennale, titled “The Splendor of Beauty in His Land,” opened on December 22 at Tseung Kwan O Methodist Primary School in Hong Kong and will conclude tomorrow, January 1. The 10-day exhibition has drawn enthusiastic responses, surpassing previous years in attendance and impact.

  • 2024 report from Wycliffe Global Alliance shows status of Bible accessibility worldwide

    Wycliffe Global Alliance has published its 2024 Global Scripture Access Report, unveiling the latest status of Bible accessibility worldwide. The annual report is compiled using data from the Alliance’s partner organizations, including SIL International, the United Bible Societies, and others.

  • A Christian’s proper response to the sugar-coated bullet of influencer fame

    Today, I came across a thought-provoking story about a 2016 internet influencer from the U.S.. The case of Nicholas Perry raises a sobering question: Is it worth sacrificing oneself in the pursuit of views?