Rhode Island Representative Jim
Langevin has written an op-ed in support of Rhode Island legalizing
gay marriage.
The issue returns to the front burner
in the state on Thursday as a House panel votes on a gay marriage
bill and the Senate begins debate on its version.
“For many years, I supported civil
unions as a reasonable way to achieve consensus on a divisive issue,
providing rights and protections to same-sex couples while respecting
the deeply held beliefs of those not comfortable with the idea of
marriage rights,” Langevin
wrote Saturday in The
Providence Journal.
“Then, three years ago, I attended
the commitment ceremony of a longtime staff member and his partner of
nine years. Before their friends and family, they professed their
love, commitment and respect for each other. Their sentiments were
just as moving, heartfelt and sincere as any of the vows I had heard
at other weddings, yet I realized that their union would not be
treated the same under the law. That difference struck me as
fundamentally unjust, and I began to challenge the wisdom of creating
separate categories of rights for certain groups of citizens. I began
to see that civil unions fell short of the equality I believed that
same-sex couples deserved.”
“I am now convinced that affording
full marriage equality rights to same-sex couples is the only fair
and responsible approach for both Rhode Island and the nation. If
our nation expects to provide equal protection for all, then our
civic institutions must reflect that noble goal.”
“As the General Assembly considers
this important topic, I ask lawmakers and all Rhode Islanders to
honor our state's founding principles of tolerance and freedom and to
support marriage equality in our state. It's time to do the right
thing,” the 46-year-old Roman Catholic lawmaker added.