Senate committee to consider opposing gay marriage bills

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http://www.boston.com/news/local/rhode_island/articles/2005/05/17/senate_committee_to_consider_opposing_gay_marriage_bills/

Senate committee to consider opposing gay marriage bills
May 17, 2005

PROVIDENCE, R.I. --A Senate committee was expected to take up two opposing gay marriage bills on Tuesday -- one that would legalize marriage for same-sex couples, and another that would bar it. The bill before the Senate Judiciary Committee prohibiting same-sex marriages would also prevent the state or any of its agencies from recognizing such unions performed in other states.

One year ago Tuesday, Massachusetts began allowing gay couples to marry, making it the first and only state to do so. Connecticut recently approved marriage-like civil unions, but barred same-sex couples from marrying. A House bill legalizing same-sex marriage in Rhode Island is scheduled for a hearing on Wednesday before that chamber's Judiciary Committee.

House Speaker William Murphy, and Senate President Joseph Montalbano, both Democrats, and Gov. Don Carcieri, a Republican, all oppose gay marriage.