This Sunday the National Organization for Marriage and their Hateful Nonsense Wagon will be pulling up on Smith Hill to remind us that God only wants certain people to receive health care benefits and death rights. Their One Man One Woman Summer of Hate tour kicked off yesterday in Maine and drew about a hundred supporters, according to local news reports, and over the next few weeks NOM will be stopping at State Houses from Vermont to Minnesota. (Except for the 24th, which for some reason they’re planning to spend in the parking lot of Old Dave’s Market in Lima, Ohio.) The bus comes to Providence on Sunday, and gay marriage advocates are planning to silently counter-protest. Queer Action is rounding people up at 1:30 on the Smith Street side of the State House; they ask participants to wear red.
In better news, this morning Argentina legalized gay marriage, becoming the first country in South America to do so. The lower house of that country’s legislature had already passed the bill, and today the Senate approved the measure 33-27. President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchener rightfully reprimanding the bill’s opponents for framing their argument in the rather frightening terms of a religious crusade.
Oh, and tomorrow (Friday) there’s a benefit for Marriage Equality Rhode Island at the Melting Pot at Providence Place. It’s $40 per person, $10 of which will go to MERI. The press release promises interactive fondue.