Same-sex marriage in Rhode Island

Same-sex marriage has been legally recognized in Rhode Island since August 1, 2013. Before that, the state allowed people in same-sex relationships to form special partnerships called domestic partnerships and later civil unions, which gave some rights but not all the benefits of marriage.

The legislation for same-sex marriage passed the House of Representatives on January 24, 2013. The Senate approved a slightly different version on April 24, 2013, and the House agreed to these changes on May 2. That same day, Governor Lincoln Chafee signed the bill into law. The new law became effective on August 1, 2013, and the first same-sex marriages happened that day.

Rhode Island was the last U.S. state in New England to allow same-sex marriage, making it an important moment for fairness and equal treatment for all families.

Legal history

Same-sex marriage was first talked about in the 1990s, but many people, especially in the Catholic Church, did not agree with it. Rhode Island started letting people in same-sex relationships join in something called "domestic partnerships" in 2002. This gave them a few rights, like helping with taxes and funeral plans.

In 2011, Rhode Island began allowing "civil unions." This meant same-sex couples could have almost all the same rights as married couples under state law. But they still could not get federal marriage benefits until a big court decision in 2013.

In January 2013, the Rhode Island House of Representatives voted to allow same-sex marriage. The law became official on August 1, 2013, and same-sex couples could then get marriage licenses just like other couples.

Native American nations

The law in Rhode Island that allows same-sex marriages does not include the Narragansett Indian Tribe. The tribe has its own rules about marriages and divorces, and it is not clear if same-sex marriages are allowed there.

Some Native American cultures, including the Narragansett, recognized people called two-spirit. These were individuals born male who lived and worked in ways that were traditionally seen as female roles. Because much of the old traditions were lost after colonization, we do not know for sure if two-spirit people could get married in the past.

Demographics and marriage statistics

Data from the 2000 U.S. census showed that 2,471 couples of the same sex were living in Rhode Island, mostly in Providence and Kent counties. These couples were usually younger than couples of different sexes and more often had jobs. Their average income was about the same, but they were less likely to own a home. About 12% of these couples were raising children under 18, meaning around 400 children lived with same-sex parents in 2000.

The 2020 U.S. census found 2,775 married couples of the same sex (1,217 male couples and 1,558 female couples) and 2,204 unmarried couples of the same sex living in Rhode Island.

Public opinion

Different groups asked people in Rhode Island about their thoughts on marriages between people of the same sex. Some groups support it, while others do not. The answers changed depending on how the questions were asked. Many people in Rhode Island are Catholic.

In August 2010, a study showed that 63 percent of Catholic people supported marriages between people of the same sex, as long as it did not change the church’s rules about who they marry. In January 2013, another study found that 57 percent of voters in Rhode Island supported allowing these marriages, with 36 percent against it. Younger voters, especially those under 45, showed the most support at 65 percent. When given other choices, 31 percent would rather have partnerships instead of marriage, and 13 percent felt there should be no legal recognition at all for relationships between people of the same sex.