R.I. Gov Candidates to Back Gay Marriage

PATRICK LYNCH X390 (GETTY) | ADVOCATE.COM

Three candidates in the Rhode Island governor's race are each expected to publicly sign a pledge stating that they would support and sign a gay marriage bill if elected.

State attorney general Patrick Lynch and general treasurer Frank Caprio, both Democrats, will sign the pledge at an event in March, along with former U.S. senator Lincoln Chafee, who is running as an independent, Marriage Equality Rhode Island told the Associated Press.

According to the report, Republican contender John Robitaille has not responded to the organization's request. Robitaille has said in the past that he opposes gay marriage but supports domestic partnerships.

Current governor Don Carcieri opposes gay marriage, and promised to veto bills legalizing it in the spring of 2009. In November, Carcieri vetoed a bill to allow domestic partners the right to claim the bodies of their deceased partners. His veto was overridden, and Lynch, a Democratic candidate, told reporters that Carcieri was "cruel and heartless" for his veto.

The statewide primary is September 4.

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Reader Comments

Back to top Post a Comment Report Abuse
Name: Todd Giroux
Date posted: 2/9/2010 8:01:29 PM
Hometown: Bristol, RI

Comment:
Gay Marriage Equality & Civil Rights No New Taxes, Control Spending The concept of a one dollar tax on Grocery Store Food opens the door for increases. I support tax on unhealthy fast foods, not beverages, spending freeze on prisons, mandatory revenue producing work for prisoners, Lower the home heating fuel tax, all state purchasing must reduced and renegotiated. The pension fund should be invested in our our state and not to be charged front loaded fees and mismanaged to poor performance year upon year.. spend within our means.. RI cannot afford to loose another billion dollars in schemes that fund out of state investment. How does a state treasurer (public empoyee ) personally gain equity accepting out of state firms to finance a campaign 1.5 million dollars when every opportunity to risk state assets is lost equity for RI. ? RI cannot afford politicians that flip flop their party nor can they accept "laisse faire " politics and perf
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Name: Me
Date posted: 2/9/2010 1:28:20 AM
Hometown: USA

Comment:
Could anybody guess what party this real piece of work Teresa Paiva-Weed belongs to? Hint: She's a NObama's buddy. According to the many NObama goons on this site, we need to vote more of this kind of trash into office.
Back to top Post a Comment Report Abuse
Name: Jackson
Date posted: 2/8/2010 9:58:29 PM
Hometown: Providence, RI

Comment:
The problem isn't the governor, never has been. The problem here in RI is the General Assembly and in the Senate it is headed by a close-minded, bigoted, ant-gay, witch-of-a-woman named Teresa Paiva-Weed, Tessie as she is derogatorily referred to in the state. She alone is the reason gay rights lag here in RI, she won't even allow it to come to a vote in the Senate, she is a Catholic University educated bigot and won't consider same-sex marraige because she "just believes that marriage should be between a man and a woman." Clueless, ill-educated moron! Caprio is late to the gay-rights party and will say whatever the others say, so long as he doesn't have to be the first one to say it. Lynch will say whatever he wants to say regardless of whether the others will say it or not...or whether its true or now. Chafee won't say anything but will quietly lead. He was the first of the 3 candidates to come out in favor of same-sex marriage rights, he is the only true leader in this race.

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