By Kim Kalunian, WPRO News
The Senate chambers were packed with supporters, opponents, spectators and press on Wednesday afternoon, when the full Senate took up Senate Bill 38, Senator Donna Nesselbush’s bill to legalize same-sex marriage in Rhode Island.
Having gotten through the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday afternoon in a 7-4 vote, the bill passed in the Senate Wednesday 26-12.
It will now go back to the House for final approval.
Senator Nesselbush began by advocating for her bill. Nesselbush, the only openly gay member of the Senate, said approving the bill would “move us one giant step forward.” Nesselbush called the vote historic, saying it was such an important night, “[she] even wore a dress.”
At the last minute, Senator Frank Ciccone introduced an amendment to the bill to make the issue of same-sex marriage a ballot referendum; Ciccone’s bill to do the same failed in the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday in a 6-5 vote. The amendment was also shot down in a 10-28 vote.
“I believe strongly that civil rights should not be put on the ballot,” said Senator Nesselbush, saying that if slavery and interracial marriage had been put to public vote, the course of history might have been very different.
Discussion of Nesselbush’s bill was opened to the full floor, and Senator Harold Metts, who is also a Deacon, got the first word. Metts, a Democrat from Providence, said he heard from many of his constituents on both sides of the issue, but said the majority opposed same-sex unions.
He also said the struggles of homosexuals are incomparable to the hardships faced by slaves.
“I can change my sexual preference tonight, but I can’t change my color,” said Metts, an African-American man.
He also made numerous references to Bible passages, saying that the word of God prevented him from supporting the legislation.
“Colleagues, the Bible is clear: marriage is between one man, and one woman,” he said.
But ultimately, more senators testified in favor of the bill, even some who were previously undecided on the issue.
“It’s not going to change my life, but it’s going to change the life of so many people,” said Senator Elizabeth Crowley, a Democrat from Central Falls. She said she spent many years soul-searching on the topic of same-sex marriage, admitting that when she was first elected in 2008, she didn’t know where she stood on the issue. On Wednesday, she urged passage.
Senator William Conley, a Democrat from East Providence, was also on the fence in the past, but stood to testify in favor of the bill.
With each testimonial in favor of the bill, spectators in the gallery let slip hushed sheers and waved their hands in the American Sign Language signal for applause.
“I was always a no vote,” said Senator James Doyle, a Democrat from Pawtucket. “It’s never been about me personally, I never ever had an issue…It’s not about what we believe, it’s about what our constituency believes.”
He went on to say that his “views have evolved” after speaking with same-sex couples.
Senator Dawson Hodgson, a Republican from East Greenwich, reminded the Senate that the entire RIGOP Caucus supported the passage of the marriage equality bill, an unprecedented move by any party caucus in any state.
Senator Maryellen Goodwin, a Democrat from Providence, was the last to speak, and began by saying she’s a life-long practicing Catholic, and proud of it. But ultimately said after soul-searching she would vote in favor.
After her suspenseful speech, the full senate voted to pass the bill, a decision met with cheers and applause by those in the chamber.
