NEW: Marriage Equality Group Rips Senator Reed
Monday, January 09, 2012
Marriage Equality Rhode Island Campaign Director Ray Sullivan released the following statement today following a report from RINPR saying that Sen. Jack Reed is still unsure about whether to support a legislative effort to repeal the so-called Defense of Marriage Act.
“While equality supporters certainly appreciate the ‘careful’ and ‘deliberative’ thought that Sen. Reed has devoted to the federal legislation that would repeal the so-called Defense of Marriage Act, we would respectfully remind him that his inability to make a decision on this important civil rights issue is adversely impacting the lives of his constituents everyday.
It has been exactly 103 days since Sen. Reed said at a press conference that he would make a decision on this important bill ‘very shortly.’ Clearly, Washington politicians and Rhode Island families have very different understandings of what ‘very shortly’ means.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTSen. Reed is well-respected by leaders from both sides of the aisle, and his support now would lend significant momentum to the effort to end DOMA. Every other member of the Rhode Island Congressional delegation - Sen. Whitehouse, Rep. Langevin, and Rep. Cicilline - have signed on as co-sponsors, and we thank them for demonstrating leadership on this critical issue. It’s time Sen. Reed did the same.
