Rhode Island's debate over same-sex marriage got personal yesterday when House Majority Leader Gordon Fox announced publicly for the first time that he is gay. Fox said he's been in a committed relationship for six years and that he supports a bill that would allow same-sex marriages. Fox, a lawyer, said he hadn't planned to make the public announcement, but felt the time was right. "It's an important message to get out. We are in these (elected) positions to lead." Fox told the House panel gay people "are not monsters, they're not caricatures. We should be afforded equal protection under the law. These folks, myself included, are asking for love, dignity and respect. I feel I am a normal person," he said. "I hope I'll be the same person in your eyes," after the announcement. News Channel 10

Touting the slogan "civil marriage is a civil right," advocates of same-sex marriage have taken their fight to the airwaves with a series of radio spots. The idea, organizers explained at a State House press conference Monday, is to mobilize their friends and allies to call state senators and representatives, telling them to support allowing single-gender marriages. The ads start with a woman’s voice saying: "Imagine if your wife was critically injured and you weren’t able to make medical decisions for her. Imagine if your husband died and you had no right to his pension or Social Security. Imagine if your mother couldn’t keep the family home when your father went into a nursing home because she had no Medicare marital protection. "Those rights," the message continues, "and over 1,000 more are denied to lesbian and gay couples no matter how long they’ve been together or how much they love each other." Woonsocket Call
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