RHODE ISLAND – The Speaker of the House in Rhode Island, Gordon Fox, who is openly gay, has said his bill to extend marriage to gay couples had “no realistic chance” this year and he would push for a civil unions bill.
“This is the best we can do right now,” Fox said. “Full marriage will happen. I’m born and bred in Rhode Island. When I do get married it will be in my home state.”
Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, said in a statement, “We are disappointed that marriage equality legislation is not moving ahead in Rhode Island. Loving, committed gay and lesbian couples in the state deserve the freedom to marry. We look forward to continuing to work with our partners in the state, including Marriage Equality Rhode Island and Speaker Gordon Fox, to pass marriage equality in the Ocean State.”
New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, Iowa and Massachusetts and the District of Columbia have gay marriage laws.
