Same-sex marriage advances in UK and Rhode Island legislatures

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In a nutshell: Legislation on same-sex marriage is moving towards passage in the UK and in the state of Rhode Island.

As reported by the AP, the British government today published a bill to legalize same-sex marriage. The bill will come up for a first vote in Parliament next month. The bill exempts clergy in the Church of England from having to marry same-sex couples.

Read more about the proposed same-sex marriage legislation in the UK:

Gay marriage bill ‘will ensure equal treatment’ for same-sex couplesControversial legislation to allow gay marriage has been unveiled by the government. The culture secretary, Maria Miller, insisted on Friday the plans would ensure “equal and fair” treatment for same-sex couples, while protecting religious institutions that do not want to perform ceremonies.

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via Guardian

In Rhode Island, the House of Representatives passed same-sex marriage legislation on Thursday by a wide margin. The bill now moves to the Senate, where Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed, D-Newport, remains opposed to the legislation, and the ultimate fate of the bill is uncertain.

Read more about the same-sex marriage legislation in Rhode Island:

RI Senate leader says religious exemption key to gay marriage debateThe Newport Democrat said she doesn’t want to fast-track the legislation and promised a “full and fair debate” on what she said is a personal and emotional issue for many lawmakers. She made the comments during a taping of WJAR-TV’s “10 News Conference.”

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via Washingtonpost