Providence Journal photo / Kris Craig
Celebrating Tuesday's Senate Judiciary Committee vote on the bill for same-sex marriage are, from left, Kelly Carse,Matthew Lannon, and his moms Josephine O'Connell and Maryellen Butke.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 7 to 4 Tuesday to send a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage to the Senate floor, giving same-sex marriage supporters a huge victory in a debate that has drawn fierce arguments from both sides.
The vote drew cheers from dozens of same-sex marriage supporters who packed the third-floor State House hearing room and others who lined the hallway
The 10-member committee also rejected, by a 6 to 5 vote, a bill that would have put the issue before voters next year.
The 11th vote in both cases was cast by Senate Majority Leader Dominick J. Ruggerio, who exercised his option to vote as an ex-officio member of all committees. Ruggerio voted against the legalization bill and for the referendum.
The full Senate will vote on the same-sex marriage bill Wednesday.
Senate spox confirms: full Senate will vote tomorrow/Wednesday on bill to allow same sex marriage in RI. The onto the house. #ssm
— katherine gregg (@kathyprojo) April 23, 2013
Voting for the bill to legalize same-sex marriage were Senators Stephen Archambault, D-Smithfield; William J. Conley Jr., D-East Providence; Dawson T. Hodgson, R-North Kingstown; Paul V. Jabour, D-Providence; Erin P. Lynch, D-Warwick; Donna M. Nesselbush, D-Pawtucket; and Leonidas P. Raptakis, D-Coventry.
Voting against were Committee Chairman Michael J. McCaffrey, D-Warwick; and Senators Frank S. Lombardi, D-Warwick; Harold M. Metts, D-Providence, and Ruggerio, D-Providence.
An earlier version of this story was posted at 3:20 p.m. and updated at 3:38, 3:57 and 8:05 p.m.
Celebrating: SenArchambault w/ #ssm sponsor, Sen Donna Nesselbush & her partner Kelly Carse w/"bride to be banner" twitter.com/kathyprojo/sta...
— katherine gregg (@kathyprojo) April 23, 2013