NOM-RI Director Christopher Plante prepares to introduce Gov. Carcieri and first lady Sue. Ken Fish of Warwick stands in the background. Photo by George Mesthos

Governor Donald Carcieri and the National Organization for Marriage-Rhode Island say they would support a referendum that would decide the definition of marriage in the Ocean State.

The announcement came as NOM-RI rolled out a new television campaign and a day after Vermont’s legislature overrode a gubernatorial veto to make same-sex marriage law.

“If we’re going to vote on referendum for a casino,” Plante said. “vote in a referendum on the definition that has formed our state, and our country, and our culture as a whole.”

Listen to: NOM-RI’s Christopher Plante says he and others will continue to fight the expansion of marriage to same-sex couples.

Gov. Carcieri said he’s confident that voters in Rhode Island would decide marriage is one woman and one woman. But if not, he is willing to accept the consequences.

“What I don’t want to happen with this issue,” Gov. Carcieri said, “which is happening, is courts deciding things or even legislators deciding things. I believe this is such an important decision that it should be put to the voters.”

Listen to: an excerpt from the governor’s remarks at the rally

In addition to Vermont’s legislature, courts in neighboring Massachusetts and Connecticut have legalized same-sex marriage.

California, however, banned same-sex marriage with a referendum (the now infamous proposition 8 ) in last November’s election.

Ken Fish of Warwick, a member of Marriage Equality Rhode Island, doesn’t like the idea of a referendum.

Fish wore a red, heart-shaped sign that appeared to say “Together 218 years.” The 8 was x-ed out to form a 21. Fish’s sign had been sitting in his garage since the gay marriage debates three years ago. Since then, budget issued have dominated discussions on Smith Hill. In Fish’s eyes the problem is that religious marriage has become confused with the civil rights associated with marriage.

State Senator Leo Blais (R) has proposed a “compromise” bill that would essentially provide several rights of marriage –such as hospital visits, organ donations and burial rights–  but would be called “Reciprocal Beneficiary Agreements.”

The purpose of Wednesday’s “rally” (few people besides members of the media attended) was to unveil NOM’s new television campaign called the “Gathering Storm.” It features a series of people who have had their lives affected by gay marriage and its advocates. One example Plante particularly harped on was a Massachusetts woman who was not allowed to pull her child out of public school classes that placed marriage and same-sex marriage on an equal footing.