PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Gov. Lincoln Chafee has joined top labor officials and several religious leaders in launching what they hope is the final push to allow gay and lesbian couples to marry in Rhode Island.
As lawmakers in the General Assembly prepare to take up the contentious issue, Chafee cited the legacy of Roger Williams, who founded Rhode Island as a beacon of religious tolerance. He said all couples — straight or otherwise — should be afforded the same rights to wed and urged lawmakers to vote this year to join the rest of New England in allowing gay marriage.
Several ministers spoke in favor of gay marriage at Monday's event. But Roman Catholic Bishop Thomas Tobin has urged lawmakers to drop the legislation, saying gay marriage is "immoral and unnecessary."
%@AP Links
249-c-11-(David Klepper, AP correspondent)-"on the issue"-AP correspondent David Klepper reports Rhode Island lawmakers will hold a hearing Tuesday on a bill to legalize gay marriage. (14 Jan 2013)
<<CUT *249 (01/14/13)>> 00:11 "on the issue"
250-c-16-(David Klepper, AP correspondent)-"tradition of tolerance"-AP correspondent David Klepper reports that clergy who support gay marriage joined Governor Lincoln Chafee at a news conference. (14 Jan 2013)
<<CUT *250 (01/14/13)>> 00:16 "tradition of tolerance"
251-c-15-(David Klepper, AP correspondent)-"institution of marriage"-AP correspondent David Klepper reports that the head of Rhode Island's Roman Catholics strongly opposes gay marriage. (14 Jan 2013)
<<CUT *251 (01/14/13)>> 00:15 "institution of marriage"
252-c-16-(David Klepper, AP correspondent)-"to support it"-AP correspondent David Klepper reports that it's unclear if Catholic opposition will derail the effort to legalize gay marriage in Rhode Island. (14 Jan 2013)
<<CUT *252 (01/14/13)>> 00:16 "to support it"
