Marriage Equality Rhode Island

Another group coming out strongly in support of marriage equality today: the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, an umbrella group of labor unions representing more than 80,000 people in the state —

Addressing the Executive Board, Rhode Island AFL-CIO President George Nee called the discussion of same-sex marriage a “fundamental civil rights issue, and the labor movement has a long, proud history of fighting for the civil rights of all Americans.” Citing a 2004 General Accounting Office report Nee noted “that there are currently 1,138 federal civil statutory rights and responsibilities associated with the word ‘marriage’ to which thousands of Rhode Islanders are now denied.”

Now you can add your voice to this campaign, from anywhere in the country!  Sign up at callformeri.org to play a part in bringing marriage equality to a sixth US state.

This is great news from the senate president’s constituency. 

At a time when Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed remains a big question mark on same-sex marriage legislation, the Democratic City Committee in her home city of Newport has endosed the bill

Want to help see marriage eqaulity become a reality in Rhode Island?

Sign up at callformeri.org!

Let’s get MERI’d!

this is the story of Patricia Baker, she is 54 and has worked as a correctional officer for Rhode Island for 31 years. She gave an emotional speech at the senate hearing for bill 29 this past thursday.

“In 2005, I married Deborah Tevyaw in Massachusetts. Together, we own a home and have a family that includes Deb’s two children and two grandchildren.

While the government always recognizes my federal income tax contributions deducted bi-weekly from my paycheck, they do not extend that recognition to my marriage. I worked all my life for these benefits, only to be told that they will go back to the government because our marriage is not recognized. She needs this money to continue on after I pass, and if our marriage was recognized, there would be no question of that.”

Click the link. Read her story and then help her and hundreds like her stop the worry.

Let’s Get MERI’d!

callformeri.org