Following the defeat of several
high-profile pro-gay marriage candidates during Tuesday's Democratic
primary, Rhode Island House Speaker Gordon D. Fox has repeated his
promise to bring a gay marriage bill to a vote next year.
The Democratic contest between Senator
Michael J. McCaffrey and openly gay challenger Laura Pisaturo was
widely seen as a referendum on gay marriage. McCaffrey, who opposes
marriage equality and heads the Senate Judiciary Committee in charge
of considering bills related to the issue, defeated his rival to move
on to the general election.
But Fox noted gains in the House, and
reiterated his pledge.
“Speaker Fox has repeatedly stated
that he will bring marriage equality for a vote in the House in the
2013 session,” Fox spokesman Larry Berman told WPRI. “Several
pro-marriage candidates were elected yesterday and that strengthens
Speaker Fox's vote in the House.”
“The results of any Senate races are
irrelevant to his pledge to bring marriage equality legislation to a
House vote,” he added.
(Related: David
Cicilline wins Rhode Island Democratic primary.)