Rhode Island became the nation's 10th state to allow gay and lesbian couples to marry Thursday, and the final state in New England to make the decision.
After 16 years of legislation and campaigns, same-sex marriage is now legal in Rhode Island.
"Never did I imagine that it would happen, said Ed Cabral, who lives in Providence with his partner, Trip Evans. "I’m so happy that I get to marry the man that I love."
They hope to get married as soon as possible. The two celebrated in a crowd of hundreds outside the Rhode Island State House, where Gov. Lincoln Chafee signed the bill into law just before 7 p.m.
"I want to say a few words to our many LGBT family members, friends and neighbors all across Rhode Island," Chafee said. "I know that you have been waiting for this day to come. I know you have loved ones who dreamed this would happen, but did not live to see it. But I am proud to say that now at long last you are free to marry the person you love."
While the other five New England states already allow same-sex marriage, there’s no clear, single reason Rhode Island has been a hold-out. It’s a heavily Catholic state, and has a slightly older population. But same-sex rights activists say grassroots campaigning and an influx of money made this year’s campaign successful. The bill's chances improved when the senate president said she would allow the bill to move forward, despite her opposition to same-sex marriage.
Ray Sullivan, campaign director of Rhode Islanders United for Marriage, framed the issue as one of civil rights, which he says changed some minds.
"This is one of, if not the largest grassroots campaigns the state’s ever seen," Sullivan said. "We’ve had an unprecedented number of people from the labor community, business leaders, faith leaders, who have stepped up and said in 2013 it’s time that all loving and committed couples are treated equally under the law."
The most significant opponent was the Catholic Church. And the National Organization for Marriage has had a presence in Rhode Island since 2008.
“Providence was in the top ten of the least biblically literate microcenters in the country," said Chris Plante spokesman for the organization. "There’s serious lack of what I would say deep faith in the state."
Same-sex marriages could take place as early as August 1. Out-of-state residents also will be welcome to marry in Rhode Island. Christopher Utter and his partner are already planning their wedding.
"I really want that for us," Utter said. "And when the bill first passed the House, I said to my partner, ‘If we’re going to benefit from this then we need to be part of this, as volunteers going door-to-door canvassing and working on the telephone banks.'"
The law states that religious institutions and clergy may continue to set their own rules regarding who is eligible to marry within their faith.
