The debate on same sex marriage equality has heated up in Rhode Island this fall. Learn why we think we can win in 3 years, and what we need to get there.
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By Jenn Steinfeld | Contact
Jenn Steinfeld is the Director of Marriage Equality Rhode Island (MERI), and was a founding member of the organization.
In her 4 years with MERI, she had become adept at political strategizing, working with the media, and developing grassroots organizing campaigns.
She was honored to be named one of Rhode Island Monthly's 25 Movers and Shakers of 2006 for her work on LGBTQ rights.
Steinfeld is a member of the Advisory Council of Equity Action, an LGBTQQ Field of Interest Fund at the Rhode Island Foundation, where she chairs the Education and Outreach Committee.
She is a member of the Board of Directors of Ocean State Action, a multi-issue progressive organization in Rhode Island.
She also teaches leadership at Blackstone Academy, a charter high school serving students from two diverse communities.
She and her partner, Lauren Nocera, live in Providence. She is an avid knitter and gardener.
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WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE OCEAN STATE?
Marriage Equality Rhode Island (MERI) is Rhode Island’s only LGBTQ policy and advocacy organization. Nearly 18 months ago, Rhode Island same sex couples were granted marriage rights….in Massachusetts. In September 2006, a Massachusetts court ruled that Rhode Island couples have free and open access to marriage in the Bay State and just a year ago Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick Lynch stated that RI should treat these marriages equally. We know that several hundred same sex couples residing in Rhode Island have married in Massachusetts; we also know that thousands more are holding out to marry at home. Our forward momentum is now even more critical to our national movement.
We believe that working for anything less than full marriage equality in Rhode Island would be a step backward for our state and for our national movement.
This fall, the Rhode Island Supreme Court ruled that what we have always believed is true: the road to full marriage equality runs directly through the State House. In a convoluted opinion denying a same sex couple the right to divorce, the Court stated that it is the role of the General Assembly to determine what rights, benefits, and recognition should be provided to same sex couples.
MERI’s goal is to win access to marriage for all Rhode Island couples by June 2011 through legislative means.
2011 IS RHODE ISLAND’S MAGIC YEAR
Rhode Island’s governor, re-elected in 2006, ideologically opposes equal marriage. Because of term limits, we know we will have a new governor in 2010. We have an ambitious, but achievable, plan for success. Our goal is to get a marriage bill onto the desk of our next Governor, and signed into law in their first term. We have good reason to believe that –even if we do nothing – our next Governor will support equality. The top candidates in both major parties have all been vocal supporters of full marriage equality.
TO WIN IN THREE YEARS, WE MUST TAKE ACTION NOW
2008 is a year of opportunity for us. As a state of a million people, a little goes a long way. We are a single media market, and the State House is no more than a one-hour drive from anywhere in the state. Every legislator spends every night in their home community. And we need the help of donors from beyond our borders to position ourselves for success.
This fall, we proved that an openly gay, married, marriage activist can be elected to the General Assembly; we know this message has resonated within the State House and in communities around the state. This spring, we must move pro-equality legislation forward, and get our legislators on the record with votes on equality. This fall, we must win open seats, and take on anti-equality incumbents. We must strengthen our influence in key communities, educating and mobilizing leaders in support of equality.
OUR PROGRAMMING FOR SUCCESS
MERI has five major program areas to ensure that our next Governor will have a marriage bill to sign into law:
- State House Lobbying with staff and volunteers sharing personal stories and moving legislators to support marriage equality and interim benefit legislation.
- Civic Engagement and Community Organizing, training our members to build support for equal marriage in their communities and conduct voter registration, education, and mobilization.
- Public Education and Media to keep the issue of equal marriage in the news, and to teach people why marriage matters. We are winning the support of key community leaders, major employers, and powerful lobbies.
- Electoral Work to ensure that we have the support to pass a marriage bill in the State House. The entire Rhode Island legislature is up for election every two years, and we have a clear plan to elect more pro-equality candidates in 2008 and 2010, and elect a pro-marriage governor in 2010. We’re off to a good start, this fall we elected the openly gay board chair of MERI to the General Assembly!
- Organizational Infrastructure to ensure that we have the strength, resources, and relationships we need to be a major political influence.
WE WORK WITH PROVEN WINNERS
MERI is actively engaged in the New England strategy to bring marriage equality to our region. We have strong partnerships with both GLAD and MassEquality, who successfully won and preserved marriage in Massachusetts. We all agree that the time is ripe for Rhode Island. Our Supreme Court has outlined the inequality in the current law, and stated that, "fashioning such a remedy would fall within the province of the General Assembly." Public opinion is moving our way, and with every other New England state having some form of relationship recognition, Rhode Island must act now to avoid being left behind. We have a well established, politically savvy LGBT community, and a generally welcoming climate. Our April 2006 poll showed 44% of Rhode Islanders supported equal marriage, with 39% opposing. Other polling questions have shown public opinion moving our way.
This is not to say we don't face opposition. As mentioned above, our Governor is an ideological opponent to any relationship recognition. His vociferous opposition gives many members of our General Assembly the excuse they need to avoid taking a stand for equality. Both the Senate President and the Speaker of the House have come out against equality. The Catholic Church is very strong in our state and the Bishop is a strong, vocal, media-savvy opponent. And of course, change is hard and scary, and there are always those who would rather see things stay the same forever. But we are confident in ourselves, in our community, and in the fair-mindedness of our neighbors. We believe that Rhode Island – a state founded as a "lively experiment" in religious freedom – is ready to move. We will be fighting hard, and we hope you will stand with us in achieving our goals for equality.
