CARNAL NATION

New England Cable News reports that Rhode Island Governor Donald Carcieri is speaking out against gay marriage and has lent his support to the National Organization for Marriage, "a nonprofit organization with a mission to protect marriage and the faith communities that sustain it." Rhode Island is currently the only state in New England that does not recognize same-sex marriage, civil unions, or domestic partnerships. There are currently two bills in the Rhode Island legislature that would legalize same-sex marriage. Carcieri opposes both bills, saying, "What I don't want to see happen with this issue is what's happening is courts deciding things or legislatures deciding things this is such an important issue I think its should be put to the voters." The governor and his wife appeared yesterday at a news conference announcing a National Organization for Marriage-sponsored ad campaign in the state. The governor's appearance was meant to emphasize his belief that marriage can only be between one man and one woman. "Heterosexual marriages see their rights threatened here and the National Organization for Marriage is here to defend those," says Christopher Plante of the National Organization for Marriage. The governor would like to see a referendum on the 2010 ballot. Meanwhile, the legislature is looking at several compromise bills that would create benefits for same sex couples short of full marriage rights.

Advocates for same-sex marriage in Rhode Island are encouraged by recent victories in Iowa and Vermont. They say independent polling shows wide support moving their way. "The people of Rhode Island support marriage equality they support equal rights for all Rhode Islanders you cannot take something for yourself that you do not also offer to your neighbor," says Kathy Kushnir of Marriage Equality RI.

You can find the contact info for Gov. Carcieri here.