State of Rhode Island secondary Archives: on Civil Rights
Ashley Kalus:
Worked to ensure that communities have access to power
Over the past decade, Kalus said she has worked to ensure that communities have access to power. She served as the director of public engagement and outreach and took on the position because she wanted to ensure that Black and Brown communities and
communities that did not have lobbyists had access to the governor's office. Kalus said the Democratic Party has failed a generation of Black/Brown communities in the state and advocates for education reform and economic opportunity.
Source: Johnston Sunrise on 2022 Rhode Island Gubernatorial race
May 31, 2022
Bob Flanders:
Supreme Court allows religious exceptions to same-sex rights
On LGBTQ rights & marriage equality, Flanders said that the Supreme Court has ruled on the issue and he would not vote to take away marriage. That said, he "respects the fact" that LGBTQ rights creates "religious issues." Flanders described the Supreme
Court decision in the "cake case," saying the Supreme Court supported the bakers' right to refuse to make a cake for a gay couple because of the baker's religious beliefs. But in fact, Masterpiece Cakeshop v Colorado Civil Rights Commission was decided
on procedural grounds, and no right to discriminate was created by the court.Flanders responds, "I disagree with your contention that I mischaracterized the decision in the `cake case' when I stated that the Supreme Court supported the baker's right
to refuse to make a wedding cake for a gay couple. The case was not decided on procedural grounds. The Court ruled that the baker's religious objections to creating such a cake [fell under] the First Amendment's free exercise of religion clause."
Source: UpriseRI.com on 2018 Rhode Island Senate race
Jul 26, 2018
Dan McKee:
Overstated support for marriage equality, but for it at end
In response to an ad released by incumbent Rhode Island Lieutenant Governor Daniel McKee claiming early leadership on marriage equality, leaders of
Rhode Island's LGBTQ community condemned the lieutenant governor for taking credit for a fight they say he was absent from until the very end.
Source: Uprise RI blog on 2022 Rhode Island Gubernatorial race
Aug 22, 2021
Gina Raimondo:
Ban conversion therapy for minors
Governor Raimondo, joined by Youth Pride, Inc., held a bill signing of legislation banning conversion therapy for minors. Rhode Island is now the tenth state to take action to protect minors from the horrific ramifications of conversion therapy.
"LGBTQ youth should know that there is a place for them in Rhode Island," Governor Raimondo said. "Conversion therapy is archaic, harmful, and should never be inflicted upon children. Countless studies have demonstrated that the psychological effects
of conversion therapy are lasting and often devastating."
Conversion therapy encompasses a range of practices, many of which have been proven to be psychologically harmful, that aim to change an individual's sexual orientation or
gender identification. It is rooted in pseudo-science and has been linked to higher rates of depression, alcohol and drug abuse, and even suicide. The ceremony at the State Room followed the passage of 5277 SUB A.
Source: Press release on Rhode Island voting record on 5277 SUB A
Aug 29, 2017
Gina Raimondo:
Signed Pride Month proclamation, defying local bishop
Raimondo joined the backlash against Roman Catholic Bishop Thomas J. Tobin's call for members of his flock to stay away from events celebrating the state's LGBTQ community."I think his tweet was unfortunate and made people here feel sad,"
Raimondo told reporters after signing a "Pride Month" proclamation at the State House. "They feel it was offensive and sad and they were made to feel like second-class citizens and no one should be made to feel that way."
Source: Providence Journal on 2022 Rhode Island Gubernatorial race
Jun 3, 2019
Lincoln Chafee:
People of color are the future of Rhode Island
[We funded a study], "An Equity Profile of Rhode Island"; it tells us:- RI's share of people of color increased from 7% to 24% between 1980 and 2010.
- That all of our state's recent population growth is attributable to people of color, who will
continue to drive growth for the foreseeable future.
- That by 2040, 41% of RI's residents will likely be people of color.
- That communities of color are growing not just in our core cities, but throughout RI.
- And , that today, 36% of Rhode
Island's youth population is people of color, while only 9% of our seniors are.
This is the future of Rhode Island. And the best way to prepare for it is to ensure that all Rhode Islanders have access to quality public education. We cannot afford to
have disparity in RI where there are areas of opportunity and others where poverty holds back our economy as a whole. If we can open the doors of opportunity to those who are driving growth, it will be a bright future for all, not just for some.
Source: 2014 State of the State Address to Rhode Island legislature
Jan 15, 2014
Mark Zaccaria:
Government shouldn't redefine marriage
Question topic: Marriage is a union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.
Zaccaria: Strongly Agree
Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2014 Rhode Island Senate race
Sep 30, 2014
Matt Brown:
Running with multi-racial progressive coalition
Matt Brown is running for Governor. Cynthia Mendes is running for Lt. Governor. And they will be running alongside an unprecedented, multiracial group of 50 progressive candidates for the
RI state legislature. This team of candidates--which includes nurses, retail workers, students, and teachers--will fight for the people of Rhode Island, not corporate lobbyists or the super-rich.
Source: 2022 Rhode Island Governor website MattAndCynthiaForRI.com
Page last updated: Feb 18, 2023