Gay Marriage Wins Approval in Rhode Island House
The state Senate is next
With more than 100 supporters watching from the gallery, the Rhode Island House voted 51 to 19 Thursday to pass a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage.
After House Speaker Gordon D. Fox announced the vote, members rose to their feet in a prolonged standing ovation.
The vote followed a debate that lasted roughly an hour and a half, with supporters and opponents giving often impassioned, emotional speeches explaining their positions.
Until Tuesday, the issue -- introduced annually for the last 11 years -- had never made it beyond committee hearings.
