By Steve Ahlquist in Rhode Island’s Future
Marriage equality has been the law in Rhode Island
for two years now, and its gone nationwide due to the recent SCOTUS decision, but in the General Assembly, some legislators are continuing to vote
against same-sex couples seeking to get married.
When the General Assembly abruptly ended its legislative season
this year, it did so having passed 117 “Solemnization of Marriage”
bills. These bills are perfunctory legislative favors done by Representatives
and Senators for their constituents.
Essentially, if a couple wishes to be married, but the officiant
of their dreams is not permitted to marry the couple by law, a “Solemnization
of Marriage” bill allows a one-time exception.
With this bill passed, a beloved relative or family friend will
now be able to conduct the wedding ceremony. Because these bills are so common,
they are usually bundled together as part of a “consent calendar” which is
passed with little discussion and no fanfare.
Many who voted against same-sex marriage two years ago continue
that battle today and some new legislators have joined the fight by voting
against solemnization of marriage bills for same-sex couples.
This means that anyone seeking these perfunctory legislative
favors are now putting themselves in a position to have their marriage judged
by religious conservatives. These votes served to remind 25 couples that their
marriage is not worthy of the same level of respect as others.
Out of the 117 solemnization bills passed last year, six were
for couples with names that are traditionally associated with the same sex.
Misty and Dawn, Elizabeth and Nancy, Alicia and Laura, William and Michael,
Kristin and Rebecca, and Emilie and Michelle all sought and received solemnization
of marriage bills. Two other couples, Sarah and Chris and Rebeccah and Alex may
or not be same-sex couples, judging from the names.
Of course, perusing the
names like this is by no means a perfect system, so I apologize if I have
missed or mischaracterized anyone based solely on a heteronormative reading of
their name.
Consistently voting against same-sex marriages are
Representatives Samuel Azzinaro,
Arthur Corvese and Robert Phillips. Reps Justin Price, Joseph Trillo, Robert Lancia and Sherry Roberts frequently
vote against same-sex solemnization bills.
EDITOR’S
NOTE: Sam Azzinaro is a conservative Westerly Democrat who has frequently votes for the Bishop’s priorities rather than those of his constituents. Justin Price is a TeaParty militia Republican from Richmond and the leading candidate for dumbest
person in the RI House of Representatives. - WC
I spoke by phone with Rep. Azzinaro, a Democrat serving District
37 in Westerly, about his no votes, which he says are based on his religious
beliefs. Azzinaro introduced 7 solemnization bills last season, all of which
passed without a single no vote.
“It’s not in my belief,” said Azzinaro about same sex marriage,
“I didn’t vote for it when it was brought to the House for a vote and I don’t
feel I can vote for any of these same-sex marriages.”
I asked how legislators determine which bills are for same-sex
marriages and which are for opposite sex marriages. “We usually try to find out
also from the sponsor of the bill if it’s a male and a female or a same-sex
couple marriage, if we’re not sure,” Azzinaro said.
He went on to say that if a same sex couple in his district came
to him and asked him to submit a solemnization of marriage bill before the
House, he would tell them no. I asked him how he thinks his constituents would
feel about that, given that he discriminates against his same-sex constituents
in what kind of services he offers, based on their sexual orientation.
“They have to know who I am, how I feel,” he said.
The first video is of a passage of a Solemnization of Marriage
bill, with Azzinaro, Corvese, Lancia, Phillips, Price and Roberts voting
against. The second video is of the passage of a consent calendar containing
one same-sex marriage and four opposite sex marriages. Azzinaro, Corvese and
Phillips voted against.
Steve Ahlquist is a writer, artist and current president of the
Humanists of Rhode Island, a non-profit group dedicated to reason, compassion,
optimism, courage and action. The views expressed are his own and not necessarily
those of any organization of which he is a member. atomicsteve@gmail.com;
Twitter: @SteveAhlquist