After Rhode Island Speaker Gordon Fox announced that he would support a civil union bill rather than a marriage bill, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) issued a statement criticizing Fox and reiterating its support for full marriage equality in Rhode Island.

Karen Loewy, GLAD senior staff attorney, said, "Nothing short of marriage is equality for Rhode Island's gay and lesbian citizens and their children. By citing DOMA, Speaker Fox lets the federal government set the standard for discrimination and sells out the gay community for the sake of political expediency. DOMA's days are numbered as it comes under increasing legal and political attack.