Rhode Island Governor Signs Law Officially Legalizing Marriage for Same-Sex Couples

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PROVIDENCE, R.I.– Rhode Island governor Lincoln Chafee signed a law legalizing marriage for same-sex couples today. Chafee signed the bill shortly after its passage by the state legislature.

Rhode Island is now the tenth state, in addition to the District of Columbia, to recognize marriage for same-sex couples. It joins all other New England states – Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Maine – as well as Maryland, Washington, New York, and Iowa.

"Today is a great day for freedom and equality in Rhode Island," said Steven Brown, executive director of the ACLU of Rhode Island. "I am very proud to see our state join the rest of New England by passing this momentous law."

"This is a tremendous victory for the thousands of loving and committed couples and their families in Rhode Island who can now get the recognition and protection that only marriage can provide," said James Esseks, director of the ACLU Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Project, "This was the result of years of hard work, and we will keep working with our partners to continue the fight to realize the freedom to marry for families across the country."