Protesting anti-LGBT bigotry in R.I.

WARWICK, R.I.--It was a beautiful summer day on August 16, despite the dark cloud cast by the National Organization for Marriage's (NOM) first annual "Marriage and Family Day," a fundraiser to "celebrate marriage between one man and one women and the families that come from them."

The event, held at the Catholic Diocese-owned Aldrich Mansion, featured performances by Christian rock bands, a heterosexual-only marriage vows renewal ceremony and a speech by NOM president Maggie Gallagher.

Outside the Aldrich mansion, 50 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) activists from two newly formed groups, the Providence Equality Action Committee (PEAC) and Queer Action of Rhode Island, lined the streets in protest under a banner that read, "We Solemnly Vow to Fight Against Inequality."

In a symbolic ceremony, PEAC members renewed their vows to fight the inequality and oppression that LGBT people face under the law.

PEAC is comprised of community groups, including Marriage Equality Rhode Island, and individuals who are united against oppression of LGBT people. Although PEAC takes on a broad range of LGBT issues, it recognizes marriage equality as the cutting edge of the struggle and is the leading organization in the state mobilizing for the National Equality March in Washington, D.C.

A recent Brown University poll shows that 60 percent of Rhode Islanders support marriage equality. Yet Rhode Island is the only New England state that has no form of legal recognition for same-sex couples. Although the state General Assembly has introduced a marriage equality bill in every session since 1997, no bill has ever come to a vote.

Activists will keep up the pressure to combat bigotry and put marriage equality on the table in Rhode Island.