Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee just signed the state’s marriage equality bill into law in a riveting ceremony on the steps of the Rhode Island State House. The marriage equality bill passed the Rhode Island state House earlier this morning with unanimous bipartisan support. 

 

The Human Rights Campaign celebrated the historic victory moments after it became official by raising the Rhode Island flag above their D.C. office. The state of Rhode Island now becomes the tenth state alongside the District of Columbia to legalize gay marriage. 

 

Rhode Island becomes the last state in New England to legalize gay marriage after independent Governor Chafee signed the bill on Thursday. “I know that you have been waiting for this day for a long time,” Chafee said to the state’s lesbian and gay community at a ceremony in front of thousands. “I understand that you have loved ones that have long dreamed that this day would become a reality. I am proud to announce that this day has finally come, and you are free to marry the person you love.”

 

Chafee outlined his support for gay marriage rights for not only moral grounds, but also economic, “the talented workers who are pushing this economy forward want to live in a place that reflects their thoughts and values. These young people want diversity, not simply because of a sense of justice, but because diversity makes life more enjoyable,” he said. “Why would any state in the U.S. turn away the individuals who are most likely to create the economies of the upcoming generations?”

 

As a conservative U.S. senator in 2004, Chafee expressed his support for gay marriage when the vast majority of his party staunchly opposed it. Chafee was ousted from his seat in 2006 but won the governor’s race in Rhode Island in 2010 as an independent. 

Chafee is now urging fellow governors to push for similar legislation to what was passed in his state today; Chafee is also calling for the United States Supreme Court to overturn the Defense of Marriage Act. 

 

Although public sentiment continues to favor same-sex marriage, legalizing the prospect remains a burden for the majority of states. Even in Rhode Island, which is positioned in the nation’s friendliest territory for gay-marriage supporters, opposition from the state’s religious right served as a staunch impediment to the bill for several years.  

 

 

Source: Human Rights Campaign

 

George Canellos, age 48, has been serving as the Department’s director since January and previously served as the division’s Deputy Director since June of last year. Mr. Canellos played a vital role in developing the division’s Cooperation Program and generated numerous legislative and policy initiatives regarding national priority enforcement actions. 

 

From July of 2009 to June of last year, Mr. Canellos served as Director of the Security Exchange Commission’s New York Regional Office. Under this role, Mr. Canellos was responsible for 400 enforcement attorneys, investigators, accountants, and compliance examiners involved in the prosecution and investigation of enforcement actions and the performance of compliance in the region. This regional office was responsible for the largest concentration of SEC-registered finance institutions, including in excess of 4,000 investment banks, broker-dealers, hedge funds, mutual funds and investment advisers. 

 

Previously, Mr. Ceresney served as a partner at a prestigious law firm, where he focused on representing individuals and entities involved in white collar crimes and SEC investigations. Before working at this firm, Mr. Ceresney served as a Deputy Chief Appellate Attorney for the Southern District of New York, where Mr. Ceresney served as a principal member of the Securities and Commodities Major Crimes and Fraud Task Force unit. 

 

“Andrew and George are two of the finest lawyers and people I know. They are a fantastic combination to lead the Enforcement Division, which is responsible for protecting investors and keeping or markets vibrant and safe,” said the chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Mrs. Mary Jo White. 

 

The Enforcement Division is the Security and Exchange Commission’s largest unit, with in excess of 1,200 accountants, investigators, trial attorneys and an assortment of other professionals. In recent years this division has achieved considerable success with prosecuting insider trading, financial crisis and other financial cases, while returning billions of dollars to defrauded investors.  

 

 

Source: SEC.gov

 

The Rhode Island Senate made history this week after passing S-38, also known as the marriage equality bill, by a vote of 26 to 12. The state of Rhode Island is now poised to become the tenth state in the nation along with Washington, D.C. to formally legalize gay marriage. 

 

The Rhode Island House of Representatives unanimously passed the marriage equality bill this January, but because of an amendment passed in the Senate, the bill will return to the House for a final vote. When the House passes the amended version of the bill, the measure will be placed in front of equality supporter Governor Mr. Lincoln Chafee for his signature. 

 

The Rhode Island vote is particularly historic because earlier this week the Senate Republican Caucus declared their unanimous support for the measure. 

 

Rhode Island will be the last state in New England to enact marriage equality laws. The Human Rights Campaign had been involved for a number of years in the state of Rhode Island, working closely with marriage Equality Rhode Island and several legislative bodies to build support for relationship recognition in the state, particularly when civil unions were formally made legal in 2011. 

 

The Human Rights Campaign joined with residents of Rhode Island and Rhode Islanders United for Marriage to pass the marriage equality act. The Human Rights Campaign contributed staff and other resources to bolster the odds of the bill passing. The Human Rights Campaign sent a senior organizer to work with city councils to build support at the local level. The Human Rights Campaign also hired a local faith organizer to work with religious bodies who support equality and fairness for all residents of Rhode Island. 

 

The final vote in the state’s House of Representatives will take place next week; the state’s governor is expected to sign the bill sometime after the House approves the measure. Marriage equality in the state of Rhode Island should take effect by the 1st of August. 

 

 

Source: Human Rights Campaign

 

It’s the biggest move of Jason Collins’ career, and it occurred off the court. 

 

Jason Collins, who has played 12 years in the National Basketball Association most notably for the Washington Wizards and the Boston Celtics, has disclosed to the nation that he is a homosexual. This announcement makes Jason the first active openly gay male athlete in the four major pro team sports’ leagues. 

 

The 7-foot center, who is now a free agent, “literally and figuratively,” made the disclosure in a story appearing in the upcoming issue of Sports Illustrated. 

 

“Jason Collins has changed the face of the sports,” said the Human Rights Campaign. The prominent civil rights group that has long been fighting for gay rights likened the announcement to Jackie Robinson becoming the first African-American to play in major league baseball in the modern area. “At a time when millions of Americans are reflecting on the life and legacy of Jackie Robinson, Mr. Collins is a hero of our own times,” the HRC said. 

 

Jason Collins is a 12-year NBA veteran who has played for six NBA teams (the Wizards, New Jersey Nets, Atlanta Hawks, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, Boston Celtics, and Washington Wizards). Collins has averaged 3.6 points and 3.8 rebounds in 713 games. 

 

NBA Commissioner David Sterns claimed that the 34-year-old veteran is widely respected throughout the entire league. “We are proud he has assumed the role as a leader with this very important issue,” Stern said in a statement. 

 

Ernie Grunfeld, the President of the Washington Wizards, said the team is “very proud of Jason and support his decision to live openly and proudly. Jason has been a leader and an outstanding teammate throughout his career. Jason’s qualities will continue to serve him both as a role model and as a player for others of different sexual orientations.” 

 

Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers called Collins “a true pro” and one of his favorite to coach. “If we have learned anything from Jackie robins, it is that teammates are the first to accept change,” Rivers claimed. “It will be society who will be forced to learn more about tolerance.”

 

 

Source: whitehouse.gov