Is gay marriage legal in ri

Same-sex marriage has been legally recognized in Rhode Island since August 1, [1]. The state had authorized a limited form of domestic partnerships from to and the formation of civil unions from until the state began recognizing same-sex marriages in Same-sex marriage was legalized in the state in , following the passing of the Marriage Equality Act.

This landmark legislation ensures that gay couples in Rhode Island are afforded the same legal rights and protections as heterosexual couples. On Thursday May 2, , the Rhode Island General Assembly approved and Governor Lincoln Chafee signed a marriage equality law, An Act Relating to Domestic Relations-Persons Eligible to Marry,1 that extended the right to marry to same-sex couples effective August 1, Rhode Island gay marriage laws currently do not allow same-sex marriages.

The state at this time only allows domestic partnerships. These domestic partnership do not have nearly all the benefits of a normal Rhode Island marriage, but they do have some important ones.

Is same-sex marriage illegal anywhere

Same-sex marriage is legal in Rhode Island and has been recognized since The state officially allowed same-sex couples to marry following the passage of legislation that granted them the same rights and legal recognition as heterosexual couples. Rhode Island's state legislature has approved a bill legalising gay marriage, making it the 10th US state to back same-sex marriages.

As the national dialogue regarding same-sex marriage engulfs Rhode Island politics — including a marathon hour hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee two weeks ago — the Supreme Court heard a case last week that could render irrelevant the entire debate. The state Senate passed the legislation in a vote. The Court could also rule that same-sex civil unions, which are offered in California and Rhode Island, are unconstitutional.

Kent Stetson and Luis Astudillo were among the first same-sex couples in Rhode Island to tie the knot, obtaining a marriage license minutes after Providence City Hall opened at Ray Sullivan, campaign director for Rhode Islanders United for Marriage, said many couples plan to obtain marriage licenses for weddings later in the year while others are waiting until next year. Civil unions provide the same rights and privileges to gay couples as marriages provide heterosexual couples under Rhode Island law.

But most Americans suspect that Obama's statement was motivated by politics, not policy, according to a poll released Monday. For the first time in U. The action follows President Barack Obama's declaration last week that he personally supports making same-sex marriage legal. A friend presided over the low-key ceremony. More on this story. They had no plans for an extravagant ceremony, saying that in their eyes, their marriage began in August State Rep.

Former University Chancellor Samuel M. No significant problems with the new marriage law were reported. This outcome would overturn Proposition 8, legalizing same-sex marriage in California but nowhere else. The Catholic Church in the state opposed the bill, and during senate debate, many legislators said they had to weigh their religious beliefs against their constituents' desires. The Supreme Court also heard arguments in a case about the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act, which established the federal definition of marriage as between one man and one woman.

Lincoln Chafee directs state agencies to recognize marriages performed out of state as legal and treat same-sex married couples the same as heterosexual ones.

House Speaker Gordon Fox, who is gay, plans to preside over the ceremony in front of hundreds of invited guests. In communities including Cranston and Providence, a small number of protesters gathered outside city halls but were far outnumbered by supporters of gay marriage. Chrome Safari Continue. Hundreds of supporters in the statehouse cheered the vote. In Newport, a couple that have been together for 41 years, Federico Santi and John Gacher, were previously joined in a civil union, so they were immediately married Thursday after getting their license.

A final vote could come as early as next week. Some gay couples married outside Rhode Island — where civil unions are allowed, but gay marriage is illegal — haven't been afforded certain rights because the state's law wasn't clear on the issue.

Rhode Island to recognize other states' gay marriages

The order signed by Gov. Skip to Content , Navigation , or Footer. Providence Mayor Angel Taveras, who planned to marry a couple in his City Hall office later Thursday, said he was delighted to witness the first day of gay marriages. Rhode Island was the last state in the New England region to allow gay marriage.