Equality in Marriage Position Statement
Women’s Fund of Rhode Island
Advisory Council

The mission of the Women’s Fund of RI is to advance equity and social justice for women and girls. We believe that everyone should have equal access to all opportunity, whether social, cultural, economic, educational or political.

Our mission and values compel our position that equal access to the benefits, protections and responsibilities conveyed by the institution of civil marriage is a fundamental right of all individuals in our society. Civil marriage equality guarantees all individuals the right to marry the person of their choice regardless of gender, with the same legal benefits and protections as heterosexual marriages.

Consistent with this position, the WFRI supports legislation introduced in the Rhode Island General Assembly to provide equal access to civil marriage. We oppose any legislation that would prohibit the State from recognizing same sex or civil marriages or that would define marriage as solely between a man and a woman. All residents of our state, whether heterosexual or homosexual, deserve equal protection under the law with respect to civil marriage and all other state-sanctioned rights and privileges.

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Positions taken by the Women’s Fund of Rhode Island do not necessarily reflect those of The Rhode Island Foundation.