Chafee’s RI gubernatorial bid could gain LGBT support
by Joe Siegel
EDGE New England Editor
Monday Jan 18, 2010

Former U.S. Sen. Lincoln Chafee’s gubernatorial bid could win him widespread LGBT support for his supportive stance on marriage for same-sex couples and other issues.

Chafee announced his candidacy on Jan. 4, and he has launched an official Web site.

His pro-gay stances stand in stark contrast to current Gov. Don Carcieri, a socially conservative Republican who drew widespread condemnation last year for vetoing a funeral planning bill for domestic partners. The Rhode Island legislature overrode that veto.

LGBT activists have been trying to get a marriage bill passed for the past 13 years. Carcieri has been a vocal opponent of nuptials for gays and lesbians, and he has endorsed the efforts of the National Organization for Marriage. The governor also spoke at a Massachusetts Family Institute fundraiser last fall.

"To me, the issue of same-sex marriage boils down to a question of basic fairness," Chafee opined in an editorial published last year. "Gays and lesbians have contributed to the diverse fabric of Rhode Island and the rest of the country for generations, strengthening our communities in innumerable ways. We all know someone who is openly gay or lesbian, and almost all of us share the same basic aspirations: a safe town and an affordable home to live in; a good job to provide us and our families with economic security; good schools for our children; quality health care; and, perhaps most importantly, someone to love and share our lives with. Once you acknowledge that homosexuality exists not by choice, the next obvious step is to grant gays and lesbians the same liberties and freedoms as every other American."

Endorsed by the Human Rights Campaign in 2006 during his unsuccessful re-election campaign against Sheldon Whitehouse, Chafee, who is an Independent, will have to prevail against two formidable Democratic candidates: State Attorney General Patrick Lynch and General Treasurer Frank Caprio. Lynch and Caprio both support marriage for gays and lesbians and have already raised a lot of money for their respective campaigns.

The only Republican in the race is John Robitaille, Carcieri’s director of communications. Robitaille said he believes marriage is between a man and a woman; though he is willing to look at granting more legal rights to same-sex couples. He would not say, however, if he agrees with the governor that marriage should go to the voters.


Joe Siegel has written for a number of other GLBT publications, including In newsweekly and Options.