Gay Marriage in Rhode Island: A Big Issue for a Small State

Abstract

This article takes the position that Rhode Island is poised to recognize same sex marriage. It first parses the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court's plurality decision in Goodridge v. Department of Public Health, showing that this oft-criticized decision is actually simply a logical extension of existing and widely accepted law. Turning to Massachusetts' neighbor to the south, it then reviews relevant Rhode Island law to demonstrate how and why the Goodridge framework easily fits Rhode Island's existing legal landscape. It concludes that the Rhode Island Supreme Court could logically conclude that gay marriage in Rhode Island is a constitutional necessity.

Keywords: Gay Marriage, Civil Rights, Domestic Relations, Rhode Island, Gay Rights