The 10 People Who Will Decide the Fate of Same Sex Marriage in Rhode Island

The 10 People Who Will Decide the Fate of Same Sex Marriage in Rhode Island

The battle over same-sex marriage in Rhode Island officially kicks off this afternoon as the House Judiciary Committee will take up a bill introduced by Rep. Arthur Handy of Cranston that would allow same-gender couples to marry in the state and would change the definition of previously-recognized civil unions to marriages.

At the same time, a newly-formed group of a number of prominent religious leaders called the “Faith Alliance to Preserve the Sanctity of Marriage as Established by God” is expected to meet at the State House to express their opposition to the legislation.

Political experts across the state all agree the bill should have no trouble getting through the House but that’s where the real battle begins.

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And while it seems the odds of the legislation being passed are greater than ever before in Rhode Island, the fate of same sex marriage in the Ocean State will ultimately come down to 10 people who have either taken a hard stance on the issue or remain as key question marks heading into the debate.