As reported yesterday, Rhode Island has been progressing their marriage equality bill through the Rhode Island House and then Senate Judiciary Committee. Today the full senate voted in favor of the marriage equality bill with in favor and against. Now the bill needs to once again visit the House because of an amendment to the bill. Here;s more:

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Rhode Island is on a path to becoming the 10th state to allow gay and lesbian couples to marry after a landmark vote in the state’s Senate on Wednesday.

The Senate passed gay marriage legislation by a comfortable 26-12 margin, following a House vote of approval in January. The bill must now return to the House for a largely procedural vote, likely next week, but the celebration began Wednesday.

Hundreds of people filled the Statehouse with cheers following the vote.

Supporters mounted a renewed push this year, and the Senate vote was seen as the critical test after the House easily passed the bill. Gov. Lincoln Chafee, an independent, called Wednesday’s vote historic.

“I’m very much looking forward to signing this,” he told The Associated Press as he congratulated supporters.

It’s also important to note that Governor Chafee has stated he will be signing the bill if it does pass and all indications are showing that this will be the case, Congratulations to Rhode Island  We can only hope that the other 40 states that do not allow same sex marriage will do so as quickly.