State of Rhode Island secondary Archives: on Civil Rights
Ashley Kalus:
Worked to ensure that communities have access to power
Over the past decade, Kalus said she has worked to ensure that communities have access to power. She served as the director of public engagement and outreach and took on the position because she wanted to ensure that Black and Brown communities and
communities that did not have lobbyists had access to the governor's office. Kalus said the Democratic Party has failed a generation of Black/Brown communities in the state and advocates for education reform and economic opportunity.
Source: Johnston Sunrise on 2022 Rhode Island Gubernatorial race
May 31, 2022
Bob Flanders:
Supreme Court allows religious exceptions to same-sex rights
On LGBTQ rights & marriage equality, Flanders said that the Supreme Court has ruled on the issue and he would not vote to take away marriage. That said, he "respects the fact" that LGBTQ rights creates "religious issues." Flanders described the Supreme
Court decision in the "cake case," saying the Supreme Court supported the bakers' right to refuse to make a cake for a gay couple because of the baker's religious beliefs. But in fact, Masterpiece Cakeshop v Colorado Civil Rights Commission was decided
on procedural grounds, and no right to discriminate was created by the court.Flanders responds, "I disagree with your contention that I mischaracterized the decision in the `cake case' when I stated that the Supreme Court supported the baker's right
to refuse to make a wedding cake for a gay couple. The case was not decided on procedural grounds. The Court ruled that the baker's religious objections to creating such a cake [fell under] the First Amendment's free exercise of religion clause."
Source: UpriseRI.com on 2018 Rhode Island Senate race
Jul 26, 2018
Dan McKee:
Overstated support for marriage equality, but for it at end
In response to an ad released by incumbent Rhode Island Lieutenant Governor Daniel McKee claiming early leadership on marriage equality, leaders of
Rhode Island's LGBTQ community condemned the lieutenant governor for taking credit for a fight they say he was absent from until the very end.
Source: Uprise RI blog on 2022 Rhode Island Gubernatorial race
Aug 22, 2021
Gina Raimondo:
Ban conversion therapy for minors
Governor Raimondo, joined by Youth Pride, Inc., held a bill signing of legislation banning conversion therapy for minors. Rhode Island is now the tenth state to take action to protect minors from the horrific ramifications of conversion therapy.
"LGBTQ youth should know that there is a place for them in Rhode Island," Governor Raimondo said. "Conversion therapy is archaic, harmful, and should never be inflicted upon children. Countless studies have demonstrated that the psychological effects
of conversion therapy are lasting and often devastating."
Conversion therapy encompasses a range of practices, many of which have been proven to be psychologically harmful, that aim to change an individual's sexual orientation or
gender identification. It is rooted in pseudo-science and has been linked to higher rates of depression, alcohol and drug abuse, and even suicide. The ceremony at the State Room followed the passage of 5277 SUB A.
Source: Press release on Rhode Island voting record on 5277 SUB A
Aug 29, 2017
Gina Raimondo:
Signed Pride Month proclamation, defying local bishop
Raimondo joined the backlash against Roman Catholic Bishop Thomas J. Tobin's call for members of his flock to stay away from events celebrating the state's LGBTQ community."I think his tweet was unfortunate and made people here feel sad,"
Raimondo told reporters after signing a "Pride Month" proclamation at the State House. "They feel it was offensive and sad and they were made to feel like second-class citizens and no one should be made to feel that way."
Source: Providence Journal on 2022 Rhode Island Gubernatorial race
Jun 3, 2019
Lincoln Chafee:
People of color are the future of Rhode Island
[We funded a study], "An Equity Profile of Rhode Island"; it tells us:- RI's share of people of color increased from 7% to 24% between 1980 and 2010.
- That all of our state's recent population growth is attributable to people of color, who will
continue to drive growth for the foreseeable future.
- That by 2040, 41% of RI's residents will likely be people of color.
- That communities of color are growing not just in our core cities, but throughout RI.
- And , that today, 36% of Rhode
Island's youth population is people of color, while only 9% of our seniors are.
This is the future of Rhode Island. And the best way to prepare for it is to ensure that all Rhode Islanders have access to quality public education. We cannot afford to
have disparity in RI where there are areas of opportunity and others where poverty holds back our economy as a whole. If we can open the doors of opportunity to those who are driving growth, it will be a bright future for all, not just for some.
Source: 2014 State of the State Address to Rhode Island legislature
Jan 15, 2014
Mark Zaccaria:
Government shouldn't redefine marriage
Question topic: Marriage is a union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.
Zaccaria: Strongly Agree
Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2014 Rhode Island Senate race
Sep 30, 2014
Matt Brown:
Running with multi-racial progressive coalition
Matt Brown is running for Governor. Cynthia Mendes is running for Lt. Governor. And they will be running alongside an unprecedented, multiracial group of 50 progressive candidates for the
RI state legislature. This team of candidates--which includes nurses, retail workers, students, and teachers--will fight for the people of Rhode Island, not corporate lobbyists or the super-rich.
Source: 2022 Rhode Island Governor website MattAndCynthiaForRI.com
Allen Waters:
Only blacks can solve black problems; starts with God, Moses
Black Americans are still in the Communist tool kit and black leaders to help save us from being exploited are hard to find because they are on the 'payroll.'
We are not victims. Only blacks can solve black problems, and that starts with God and Moses.
Source: Twitter posting on 2024 Rhode Island Senate race
Apr 20, 2023
Patricia Morgan:
Ban puberty blockers; restrict transgender care
RADICAL DEMOCRATS FIGHT HARD TO ENSNARE OUR CHILDREN INTO THEIR TRANSGENDER AGENDA. I WILL FIGHT JUST AS HARD TO PROTECT THEM!The Cass Review was recently released, a comprehensive investigation that includes studies of the nearly 10,000
children 'treated' at the Tavistock Clinic in England [which] specialized in transgender care . Among the findings:
- Suicide among transgender children is similar to the general population, except for boys who receive vaginoplasty surgery.
In that case, the suicide rate doubles.
- Puberty blockers cause many health problems, among them--stunted growth, bone and cardiovascular injury and lack of sexual function and infertility.
- A 15 year study of 2977 children aged 10-26 children
indicates that if left alone with talk therapy, 96% of children grow out of their dysphoria and become accepting and happy with their sex.
Our children and families deserve better. We should be listening to the science and banning puberty blockers.
Source: 2024 Rhode Island PatriciaMorgan.com campaign website
Sep 9, 2024
Aaron Guckian:
Same-sex marriage is settled policy, won't change it
Guckian also sought to take major social issues off the table for the upcoming campaign, saying he sees the rights to same-sex marriage and abortion as settled policy in
Rhode Island and doesn't want to change them.
Source: WPRI-12 on 2026 Rhode Island Gubernatorial race
Feb 24, 2026
Connor Burbridge:
Pass the Equality Act extending full protections to LGBTQ+
The government has no business telling people how to live, who to love, or how to present in the world. We must pass the Equality Act to extend full civil rights protections in public accommodations, education, housing,
and credit to protect individuals based on their sexual orientation and gender identity. We also must strengthen enforcement of civil rights laws so that LGBTQ+ individuals aren't discriminated against under some other pretext.
Source: 2026 Rhode Island Senate campaign website BurbridgeForRI.com
Apr 12, 2026
Raymond McKay:
Signed pledge for local chapter of Moms for Liberty
The Washington County Chapter of Moms for Liberty has been vocal against trans rights and supported the banning of books from school libraries. They have also opposed Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives.
Though McKay portrays himself as a fiscal conservative with strong views on immigration, signing the Moms for Liberty pledge shows that he is not immune to the allure of being anti-LGBTQ and banning books.
Source: Substack on 2026 Rhode Island Senate race
Jul 16, 2024
Aaron Guckian:
No reparations on the basis of race
Q: Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race?
A: Disagree
Source: AFA iVoterGuide on 2026 Rhode Island Gubernatorial race
Sep 26, 2026
Page last updated: Oct 18, 2026