Rhode Island Senate Committee Takes Up Gay Marriage Bill Tuesday

A Rhode Island Senate committee will vote on two bills related to gay marriage on Tuesday.

The Senate Judiciary Committee announced Friday that it will take up the bills when lawmakers return to Providence next week.

Lawmakers will debate a bill approved in January by the House which seeks to make Rhode Island the 10^th state to legalize such unions.

Also under consideration is a bill being championed by Senator Frank A. Ciccone, a Democrat, which proposes allowing voters to decide the issue.

The committee held a grueling 12-hour hearing on the bills last month.

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Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed, an opponent of marriage equality, previously pledged to bring the marriage bill to the floor as soon as it emerges from the committee.

A marriage bill has been introduced every year since 1997 in Rhode Island, the only New England state which does not allow gay and lesbian couples to marry. Two years ago, lawmakers approved civil unions for gay couples.