PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Are you looking for information on the issues behind the national and local debates on same-sex marriage?
PolitiFact can help.
PolitiFact National has prepared a primer on the cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, which will hear oral arguments this week on California's Proposition 8 and the federal Defense of Marriage Act. The first defines marriage in California as only between a man and a woman, the second defines marriage the same way for the purposes of federal law.
In Rhode Island, the Senate Judiciary Committee heard more than 12 hours of testimony last week on two bills -- one that would allow same-sex marriage, the other that would put the issue before voters. The committee hasn't scheduled votes on the bills.
PolitiFact Rhode Island has examined several past claims in the Rhode Island debate. You can read all the rulings here.