Ocean State Gays Rally For Marriage Equality
Nearly 200 supporters of marriage equality gathered Saturday afternoon at the Rhode Island Statehouse in Providence to voice their opposition to California’s Proposition 8.
GLBT activists, their children, friends, pets, and straight allies clutched signs and umbrellas as a light drizzle fell. A busload of students and faculty from Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts were on hand to show their support.
The sense of outrage resulting from the passage of the gay marriage bans in California, Florida, and Arizona on November 4 was evident as a series of speakers promoted the fight for equality.
"We have a right to be angry," said Susan Heroux, a member of Marriage Equality Rhode Island (MERI). Gale was at the rally with her wife, Stacey, whom she wed last year in Provincetown.
Heroux told EDGE the passage of Proposition 8 was "outrageous", adding that "everyone should be considered equal." Heroux remained hopeful that Rhode Island would pass a marriage equality bill within the next three years.
State Representative Frank Ferri (D-Warwick) also spoke in support of marriage equality. Ferri traveled to Canada in 2006 to marry his partner Tony Caparco.
"I’m a state representative and I can’t get married here," Ferri said. "It’s time for equality. It’s time for fairness."
Rodney Davis, the chairman of Rhode Island Pride, urged the GLBT community to be "vigilant."
"This is a time for action," said Davis. "I refuse to be a second class citizen in the United States of America."
Other speakers included Providence Mayor David Cicilline and State Senator Rhoda Perry (D-Providence), who noted that "civil marriage is a civil right."
Ferri told EDGE that the passage of Prop. 8 had energized supporters of marriage equality.
"Everyone knows this is about fairness," Ferri added.
