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Rhode Island to legalise gay marriage after Senate vote | |
(about 9 hours later) | |
Rhode Island's state legislature has approved a bill legalising gay marriage, making it the 10th US state to back same-sex marriages. | Rhode Island's state legislature has approved a bill legalising gay marriage, making it the 10th US state to back same-sex marriages. |
The state Senate passed the legislation in a 26-12 vote. | The state Senate passed the legislation in a 26-12 vote. |
A similar bill passed easily in the state House in January and has the support of Governor Lincoln Chafee. | A similar bill passed easily in the state House in January and has the support of Governor Lincoln Chafee. |
Rhode Island was the last state in the New England region to allow gay marriage. Hundreds of supporters in the statehouse cheered the vote. | Rhode Island was the last state in the New England region to allow gay marriage. Hundreds of supporters in the statehouse cheered the vote. |
The bill now returns to the state House to approve minor changes made since January. A final vote could come as early as next week. | The bill now returns to the state House to approve minor changes made since January. A final vote could come as early as next week. |
When Governor Chafee signs the bill into law, gay marriage will be legal in 10 states and Washington DC, the nation's capital city. | When Governor Chafee signs the bill into law, gay marriage will be legal in 10 states and Washington DC, the nation's capital city. |
"It's almost unreal to think we're here, after all these years,'' Ken Fish, a 70-year-old gay man from Warwick, told the Associated Press. "I wasn't sure we'd ever get here." | "It's almost unreal to think we're here, after all these years,'' Ken Fish, a 70-year-old gay man from Warwick, told the Associated Press. "I wasn't sure we'd ever get here." |
On Tuesday, the Senate's five Republicans announced they would all support the legislation. | On Tuesday, the Senate's five Republicans announced they would all support the legislation. |
Governor Chafee, an independent, encouraged supporters to contact their senators ahead of the vote. | Governor Chafee, an independent, encouraged supporters to contact their senators ahead of the vote. |
The legislation states that religious institutions may set their own rules for whom they deem eligible to marry. | The legislation states that religious institutions may set their own rules for whom they deem eligible to marry. |
It also specifies that no religious leader is obligated to perform any marriage ceremony. | It also specifies that no religious leader is obligated to perform any marriage ceremony. |
The Catholic Church in the state opposed the bill, and during senate debate, many legislators said they had to weigh their religious beliefs against their constituents' desires. | The Catholic Church in the state opposed the bill, and during senate debate, many legislators said they had to weigh their religious beliefs against their constituents' desires. |
Polls have shown a rapid rise in support for same-sex marriage in the US, and President Barack Obama and most US Senate Democrats now back same-sex marriage. | Polls have shown a rapid rise in support for same-sex marriage in the US, and President Barack Obama and most US Senate Democrats now back same-sex marriage. |