After nearly 5 years in leadership at MERI, I’m moving on at the end of the month. And the search is on for a new Executive Director. Under the direction of the Board, the Executive Director is responsible for overall management and operation of MERI and protection of the organization’s financial assets while ensuring compliance with Board directives and applicable grantor, federal and state requirements. Interested? Click HERE for the full description and response information.

I was surprised to see in yesterday’s ProJo that Superior Court Judge Patricia A. Hurst suggested that - in the wake of the Supreme Court’s ruling that the Family Court cannot grant divorces to same-sex couples - the Family Court Act might be unconstitutional.

“The question yet to be asked is whether the Family Court Act, now having been interpreted by the Supreme Court [in the Chambers and Ormiston case] impermissibly deprives spouses in a same-sex marriage to equal protection of law on account of the coincidence in their gender,” Hurst said. “Assuming the legislature and the executive branch continue to ignore this problem, the question will be whether the Family Court Act is unconstitutional for the reason that it violates state constitutional principles of equal protection.”

What developments arise from this are yet to be seen - I look to legal scholars to help shape court-based strategy - but we are continuing to advocate for equal divorce legislation at the State House this year.

And speaking of the State House - yesterday was Rep. Frank Ferri and Tony Caparco’s 2nd wedding anniversary. Tony told me that it’s odd to be celebrating a second anniversary after more than 25 years together, but they were excited to be recognized on the floor of the House.

And in Washington, Rhode Island Congressman Patrick Kennedy is a founding member of the newly formed LGBT Equality Caucus of the US House of Representatives. The mission of the LGBT Equality Caucus is to achieve the extension of equal rights, the repeal of discriminatory laws, the elimination of hate-motivated violence, and the improved health and well being for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.

“Our nation was built on the principle of equal rights for all people but it has taken many years to bring tolerance to our communities,” said Congressman Kennedy. “Discrimination against any individual because of their sexual orientation or gender identity is simply unacceptable. That’s why I’m so proud to be a founding member of this caucus. The LGBT Equality Caucus will provide a crucial platform in our fight for comprehensive hate crimes legislation, marriage equality and an end to workplace discrimination. At this point in history, we have a unique opportunity to advance the cause of equality,” said Kennedy.

Rep Kennedy has been a strong advocate of LGBT equality for many years, and I was pleased, but not at all surprised, to see that he was a founding member of this new, critical caucus. Keep your eyes peeling in the coming year as they take on efforts to pass a comprehensive Employment Nondiscrimination Act, repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, and take on the monster of the Federal “Defense of Marriage Act”.
Got more news we’re missing? Send it along. And don’t forget Rhode Island Pride is next Saturday. MERI’s still looking for a few volunteers to help staff our table during the daytime Festival, and we always have room for more marchers for the Illuminated Night Parade. Call us at 401-463-5368 x344 if you’re interested.

Been wondering if you should go to California and get married? Already got travel/wedding plans, and looking for a way to help advance the movement? Today, 9 national organizations working on LGBTQ issues released a Q&A to help answer some of these questions. This joint advisory by the ACLU, GLAD, Lambda Legal, NCLR, the Equality Federation, GLAAD, Freedom to Marry, HRC, and the Task Force, makes one thing clear:

We can make the most effective change by talking about our families, our relationships, and our experiences as LGBTQ people and allies.

Changing the law through Court decisions based on fundamental principles of fairness and equality helps persuade people that change is the right thing. But the most powerful agent of change in America is people.

Nothing moves Americans more on LGBT rights generally and marriage in particular more effectively than conversations that all LGBT people can have with our friends and family members about how it feels to be treated differently and why that is so unfair. Believe it or not, many of our friends and family members don’t realize the burdens and barriers we face, but most would agree that our constitution guarantees the same equal protections to everyone, and that no one should be treated differently.

We’ll win marriage because individual couples get married, tell their family, friends, co-workers and community that they are married, and talk in very practical terms about why it is so important. And about what it means to be same-sex and married, with all the fundamental freedoms that others have.
Simply getting married and telling people will help get those conversations going. But you shouldn’t stop there. The win in California was no accident. Cities in California started adopting Domestic Partnership policies in the mid 80s. The state adopted its first law in 1999, and expanded it over the next six years. Courts in California have been deciding important cases about discrimination since the 70s. With the victories in Massachusetts and California, we should be able to win marriage more quickly in other states. But we still need to lay the groundwork. Ask your employer to include your spouse in the health and benefit plans; ask them to do a domestic partnership policy if they decline. Ask your town to establish a local domestic partnership registry. These are some of the concrete tasks and tactics that people can do that will create the climate for the advances we all want, rather than rolling the dice on litigation.

Doing those things will have practical benefits. But maybe more important, they’ll spark the conversations we need to make the changes in law enduring and real at a day-to-day level.

They provide tips for advocacy you can take to help advance the movement to equality, a really good overview on why bad court decisions set the movement back, and provide information on what’s going on around the country to help win equality. Check it out here.

Brian Unger at NPR has a great piece on the financial boon that can be reaped with allowing same-sex couples to marry:
Stimulating the Economy with Gay Marriage

Looking for a fun way to learn more about our work? Missed your chance to attend our sold-out theater night last week? Then we have the event for you!

Join MERI at the Wild Colonial Tavern on South Water Street in Providence for Eat, Drink, and Be MERI! Monday, June 9th, from 5-7 pm. Come by, catch up with old friends and make some new ones. Buy a chance to win some great raffle prizes, including season passes to Festival Ballet, tickets to Trinity Rep, gift certificates to Milan Fine Men’s Clothiers, City Gardens, Blaze, and more. The Wild Colonial is a great place to spend a few hours and MERI is a great cause to support.

It’s $10 in advance, $15 at the door. Click here to RSVP.

Available here before it even airs….

Woo Hoo! The California Supreme Court today ruled that it is unconstitutional to deny same-sex couples the right to marry. The milestone California ruling comes as the country marks the 60th anniversary of another historic ruling, Perez v. Sharp. In Perez, the California Supreme Court became the first court in the country to strike down race restrictions on marriage, also by a vote of 4-3, at a time when polls showed 90% opposing interracial marriage. Today’s decision reinforces that marriage is a fundamental right, and that laws restricting that right cannot not be based solely on prejudice.

You go, California. You’ve got a long road ahead - there will almost certainly be a constitutional amendment question on the November ballot - but you light the way for the rest of us.

Join us on June 6th at Club Gallery, 150 Point St in Providence, for the Best Bartender of the Year Award. This event, held by Divine Providence, should be fun, festive, and exciting. And best of all, proceeds benefit Marriage Equality RI. For more information click the pic, with all the details of participating bars and sponsors.

Interested in volunteering to help count ballots? Contact Nancy Kirsch, nkirsch [at] MarriageEqualityRI.org or 401-463-5368 x339

Wednesday’s hearing was great - we outnumbered opponents of equality 4:1, and the only young people who testified were there to stand up for equality. At the end of this post is a small news/blog summary if you want to read more about what went on. Interestingly, Rep. Jon Brien, the sponsor of the DOMA amendment, denies that his bill is intended to outlaw marriage equality - rather, he insists that it’s a pulse check of Rhode Islanders….that would write their answers into the Constitution.

He seems convinced that the overwhelming majority of Rhode Islanders would support his amendment - but we know he’s wrong. Take a minute to contact the members of the House Judiciary Committee and let them know you support equality, and call for a vote on the legislation before them. Click Here to take action.

Mini News and Blog Roundup

From the ProJo: “Jenn Steinfeld celebrated an anniversary of sorts in a crowded committee room at the State House last night. For the 10th year running, the executive director of Marriage Equality RI testified in support of same-sex marriage. Change, she said, takes time. But ultimately, it is inevitable. “

ABC6 coverage - and a poll.

365gay.com roundup
TruthSpew has a full summary of the night and evaluation of various testimony.

Am I missing something on your blog or paper? Let me know….