The Rhode Island Senate Judiciary Committee heard spirited testimony March 21 on the marriage equality bill.  The hearing lasted until nearly 5 a.m., with a strong showing of support for the freedom to marry.

GLAD Staff Attorney Janson Wu presented testimony on behalf of GLAD, which you can read here and watch below:

The next step is a Committee vote to send the bill to the full Senate floor.  If the bill then passes in the Senate, it will be sent back to the House for reconciliation.  Govern Lincoln Chafee has already said he will sign the bill if and when it comes to his desk.

For more information, visit www.riunited.org.

Rhode Island’s House of Representatives voted in favor of joining the five other New England states in enabling same-sex couples to legally marry.  The vote was 51 – 19, and now moves on to the state Senate.

“Loving, committed same-sex couples marry for the same reasons as everyone else,” said Janson Wu, staff attorney for Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders.  “More and more Americans understand that, as the representatives did today.  They did right by the citizens of Rhode Island, and we now hope the Senate will do the same.”

The bill was approved unanimously by the House Judiciary Committee earlier this week in a bi-partisan vote. A marriage equality bill has been introduced in the House every session since 1997.  This year marks the first time that it has been passed, with a real possibility of it passing in the Senate and being signed into law by marriage equality supporter Governor Lincoln Chafee.

GLAD, a member organization of the coalition Rhode Islanders United for Marriage, brought the lawsuit Goodridge v. Department of Public Health that made Massachusetts the first state where same-sex couples could marry, in 2004.  GLAD also brought the lawsuit Kerrigan v. Department of Public Health that made marriage equality a reality in Connecticut in 2009.  GLAD also played key roles in the legislative and ballot efforts that brought marriage equality to New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine.

Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders is New England’s leading legal organization dedicated to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation, HIV status, and gender identity and expression.

For questions about marriage or any other LGBT issue, call GLAD’s free and confidential Legal InfoLine at 1-800-455-GLAD(4523) or email gladlaw@glad.org.

Rhode Island’s House of Representatives voted in favor of joining the five other New England states in enabling same-sex couples to legally marry.  The vote was 51-19, and now moves on to the state Senate.

“Loving, committed same-sex couples marry for the same reasons as everyone else,” said Janson Wu, staff attorney for Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders.  “More and more Americans understand that, as the representatives did today.  They did right by the citizens of Rhode Island, and we now hope the Senate will do the same.”

The bill was approved unanimously by the House Judiciary Committee earlier this week in a bi-partisan vote. A marriage equality bill has been introduced in the House every session since 1997.  This year marks the first time that it has been passed, with a real possibility of it passing in the Senate and being signed into law by marriage equality supporter Governor Lincoln Chafee.

GLAD, a member organization of the coalition Rhode Islanders United for Marriage, brought the lawsuit Goodridge v. Department of Public Health that made Massachusetts the first state where same-sex couples could marry, in 2004.  GLAD also brought the lawsuit Kerrigan v. Department of Public Health that made marriage equality a reality in Connecticut in 2009.  GLAD also played key roles in the legislative and ballot efforts that brought marriage equality to New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine.

Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders is New England’s leading legal organization dedicated to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation, HIV status, and gender identity and expression.

For questions about marriage or any other LGBT issue, call GLAD’s free and confidential Legal InfoLine at 1-800-455-GLAD(4523) or email gladlaw@glad.org.

Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders applauded today’s launch of Rhode Islanders United for Marriage, a broad coalition of LGBT advocates, clergy members, labor organizations, and civil rights leaders dedicated to achieving marriage equality in Rhode Island in 2013.

“GLAD is proud to take an active part in this history-making effort,” said Janson Wu, GLAD staff attorney.  “We’re convinced that this year Rhode Island will join the other New England states in leading the nation toward marriage equality for all.”

Legislative leaders have committed to advancing the bill and grassroots supporters are already taking action across the state. A House Judiciary Committee hearing on the marriage equality bill, HB 5015, will take place tomorrow, Tuesday January 15, at 4:00 p.m.  There, loving and committed same-sex couples will share their stories with legislators, and talk about why marriage matters deeply to them.

In 2004, Massachusetts became the first state where same-sex couples could marry, the result of GLAD’s historic lawsuit, Goodridge v. Department of Public Health.  GLAD also brought the lawsuit (Kerrigan v. Department of Public Health) that brought marriage equality to Connecticut, and was involved in the legislative and ballot efforts in New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine, now all places where same-sex couples can marry.

“It’s time for Rhode Island’s elected officials to step up for their constituents,” said Wu.  “Loving same-sex couples all over the state, some together for decades, some raising children, need and deserve the protections and the respect of marriage.”

Those who want to support Rhode Island’s push for marriage equality can visit www.riunitedformarriage.org/petition

For more information about marriage or other LGBTQ rights, contact GLAD’s free Legal InfoLine at 1-800-455-GLAD or https://www.gladlaw.org/rights

GLAD applauds today’s launch of Rhode Islanders United for Marriage, a broad coalition of LGBT advocates, clergy members, labor organizations, and civil rights leaders dedicated to achieving marriage equality in Rhode Island in 2013.

“GLAD is proud to take an active part in this history-making effort,” says Janson Wu, GLAD staff attorney.  “We’re convinced that this year Rhode Island will join the other New England states in leading the nation toward marriage equality for all.”

Legislative leaders have committed to advancing the bill and grassroots supporters are already taking action across the state. A House Judiciary Committee hearing on the marriage equality bill, HB 5015, will take place tomorrow, Tuesday January 15, at 4:00 p.m.  There, loving and committed same-sex couples will share their stories with legislators, and talk about why marriage matters deeply to them.

In 2004, Massachusetts became the first state where same-sex couples could marry, the result of GLAD’s historic lawsuit, Goodridge v. Department of Public Health.  GLAD also brought the lawsuit (Kerrigan v. Department of Public Health) that brought marriage equality to Connecticut, and was involved in the legislative and ballot efforts in New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine, now all places where same-sex couples can marry.

“It’s time for Rhode Island’s elected officials to step up for their constituents,” says Wu.  “Loving same-sex couples all over the state, some together for decades, some raising children, need and deserve the protections and the respect of marriage.”

Those who want to support Rhode Island’s push for marriage equality can visit www.riunitedformarriage.org/petition

For more information about marriage or other LGBTQ rights, contact GLAD’s free Legal InfoLine at 1-800-455-GLAD or https://www.gladlaw.org/rights

GLAD is working with Marriage Equality Rhode Island and other coalition partners to ensure gay and lesbian Rhode Islanders have the freedom to marry the person they love.  With a bill being introduced to the General Assembly at the start of the 2013 legislative session this week, we are looking forward to the historic day – very soon – when we have full marriage equality across New England.

Read more about the bill being introduced this week, in the Providence Journal: Gay marriage bill to be introduced into R.I. General Assembly.

If you have questions relating to marriage, civil unions, or whether your current out-of-state marriage is recognized in Rhode Island, contact GLAD’s free and confidential Legal InfoLine at www.gladlaw.org/rights or 800-455-GLAD.

For questions about GLAD’s role in the coalition working for equal marriage in Rhode Island, contact GLAD’s Director of Public Affairs and Education, Carisa Cunningham, at 617-426-1350.

In a move sparked by a request for declaratory ruling by Lise Iwon in regard to the estate of her late spouse Peg Laurence, the Rhode Island Division of Taxation has ruled that same-sex couples who are married or joined in civil union will be allowed to take the same marital deductions that opposite-sex couples are able to take for purposes of estate taxes.

Peg Laurence and Lise Iwon, both well-known attorneys in the state, had been together for 32 years since meeting in law school.  The couple married in Massachusetts, and had been married for five years when Peg died on March 2, 2012.  Through her will, Peg left all of her property to Lise.

However, whether any property that Lise inherited would be exempt from Rhode Island’s estate tax was an open question.  It was also unclear whether any joint property that passed to Lise would be treated as owned one-half by Peg.  Failing to recognize Lise and Peg’s marriage would have cost Lise hundreds of thousands of dollars in estate taxes.

“I’m proud that Peg was rebellious even in death,” said Lise.  “She was a zealous advocate for disenfranchised people.  I know she’d be happy not just for me, but for all spouses in my position.  Everyone should be treated fairly at one of the toughest times in life, as when a spouse dies.”

The September 21, 2012 declaratory ruling is based upon Rhode Island’s long-standing rule of recognizing marriages validly performed in other jurisdictions, as well as upon the state’s civil union law, which took effect in July 2011, explicitly stating that civil union partners would have all the rights of married spouses. Prior to the ruling, same-sex couples in either a marriage or a civil union had to pay taxes on an estate worth more than roughly $893,000 even though their heterosexual counterparts did not.

Janson Wu of Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) praised the ruling, saying, “Governor Lincoln Chafee’s administration has consistently tried to bring fairness to Rhode Island’s LGBT citizens.  This ruling is in line with that record, and is extremely meaningful for gay and lesbian families.”

“Tax equity is one really critical piece of full equality,” said Lise’s attorney Nancy Fisher Chudacoff of Hardy Tabor & Chudacoff.  “Spouses who build a life and assets together should not be penalized – piling insult on injury – when one of them dies.  In all of my years of practice, this is one of the achievements of which I am most proud.”

Both Ms. Chudacoff and GLAD advocated with the Division of Taxation on Ms. Iwon’s behalf.

Rhode Islanders with questions about the ruling can contact GLAD’s Legal InfoLine at 1-800-455-GLAD, or gladlaw@glad.org.