A last minute attempt to block Thursday's start of a gay marriage
law in Rhode Island has failed.
Judge Daniel A. Procaccini denied a request for a temporary
restraining order sought by Ronald L'Heureux, a co-founder of the
Faith Alliance to Preserve the Sanctity of Marriage as Defined by
God, the Providence
Journal reported.
Procaccini reportedly said that L'Heureux had fallen “far short”
of the criteria needed for him to approve the request. Instead, a
preliminarily hearing was scheduled for August 9.
L'Heureux said that the law “violates the Constitution and
causes irreparable harm, and once it passes they're going to teach my
children and grandchildren conduct that's reprehensible to my faith.”
One of the first couples to marry on Thursday will be that of
Representative Frank Ferri, a Democrat, and his husband, Tony
Caparco. The men married in Vancouver in 2006.
The Ferri-Caparco wedding will be officiated by House Speaker
Gordon D. Fox, also an openly gay Democrat.