By JIM BARON

PROVIDENCE — More than 250 supporters of same-sex marriage crowded into the State House Rotunda Wednesday for a rally aimed at demonstrating to legislators that the issue has popular support.

Four candidates for governor, and the representative of a fifth, told the sign-waving, cheering crowd that they would sign legislation to allow same-sex couples to marry if they win the November election. Frank Caprio, state general treasurer and a Democratic candidate for governor, gave perhaps the briefest statement. “As governor, I will sign the marriage equality bill, I will also work with legislators to make sure it gets through the legislature. Thank you for coming out today.”
Independent candidate Lincoln Chafee said Rhode Island is “way overdue,” to embrace gay marriage. “We are the last New England state to pass this. We’re way overdue and I pledge to work with you to make it happen.”
Perhaps acknowledging political reality, Chafee said of the House and Senate, “next year, they are going to pass this bill and the candidates for governor here are saying they will sign it.”
The incumbent governor, Donald Carcieri, has been vocally opposed to same-sex marriage, saying repeatedly that it should be put to the people of the state as a referendum question.
“I would not hesitate,” promised Attorney General Patrick Lynch, also a Democrat, “I would proudly, quickly put pen to paper and, surrounded by all of you, celebrate the moment I could sign that as governor of the state of Rhode Island.
“This isn’t about theoretical discussions,” Lynch added, “this is about basic human rights. This is about basic civil rights. This is about love, it is about respect, it is about people who will stand up.”
Lynch took the opportunity to point out that he was the first state attorney general in the nation to say that same-sex marriages conducted in other states should be recognized. He also upped the ante. While other candidates said they would sign a same-sex marriage bill, Lynch also vowed to veto legislation that would restrict marriage to one man and one woman. A bill to do just that in Rhode Island has been introduced by Woonsocket Rep. Jon Brien. 
Christine Hunsinger, speaking for Ken Block, the Moderate Party candidate for governor, said, “for him, marriage equality is a no-brainer; it is a civil rights issue. If you put a bill on Governor Block’s desk, he will sign it.
Another Independent, Todd Giroux, touted himself as “the proud gay candidate for governor.”
Giroux said he believes “the U.S. Constitution serves as our shield in the fight for civil rights protection against discrimination and holds no person or group above another in pursuit of life, liberty and happiness.
Giroux took a shot at fellow candidate Block, quoting an e-mail message he said he received from Block saying “Moderate Party-backed candidates must vow and acknowledge that culture war issues like gay marriage and abortion are divisive issues that must take a legislative back seat.
“In marriage equality,” Giroux declared, “there is no back seat or token pledges”
The event was delayed for a half hour while the throngs of attendees passed one-by-one through the metal detector at the door of the Statehouse. They held hand-made signs with messages such as “Make Discrimination History” and “Life’s Too Short to Wait Forever – Pass Marriage Equality Now.”
Kathy Kushnir, executive director of Marriage Equality Rhode Island, told reporters after the event that “we have more sponsors on both the House and Senate bills this year than we have ever had. We are at a majority vote in the House, but the Senate is coming along much faster than we thought.
“Everybody understands that healthy couples and healthy families make healthy communities,” Kushnir said, “and if everybody is protected and treated equally, the state will thrive.
“We are here to make history,” Kushnir said. “We will make marriage equality the law in this state. We are at the cusp of getting this done. We are sorry it has taken this long, but we are almost there.”
When Rep. Frank Ferri, an openly gay legislator and sponsor of the House marriage equality bill, began to speak, a portion of the crowd started chanting “Where is Fox?” a reference to Rep. Gordon Fox, who is also gay and who recently assumed the powerful position of Speaker of the House. Ferri came to Fox’ defense, saying, “he’s doing our business. I support Gordon Fox and you should, too.”
Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts noted the numerous state legislators who were in attendance at the rally and other high-profile politicians, such as Providence Mayor David Cicilline, who is also openly gay, and former Democratic Party Chairman William Lynch, both of whom are running for the 1st District Congressional seat, former Pawtucket Rep. Elizabeth Dennigan, who is a candidate in the 2nd Congressional District
The Rev. Eugene Dyszlewski of the Riverside Congregational United Church of Christ said, “same-sex marriage is God’s will. We want a moral, just social order in Rhode Island, not at the expense of any particular group.”