Morning Links: Marriage and Drinking

-- The marriage fight is fully underway in Rhode Island -- the only state in New England that doesn't allow same-sex couples to marry -- where Rhode Islanders United for Marriage just launched a campaign to win full civil marriage rights for same-sex couples. From the press release:

"Rhode Islanders United for Marriage is a broad and growing non-partisan coalition of organizations who are coming together to stand up for all families and ensure the Ocean State joins the rest of New England in providing the unique protection and recognition that only marriage can afford," said Ray Sullivan, Rhode Islanders United for Marriage campaign director. "With more legislative sponsors and supporters than ever before, we believe we can win passage of this important civil rights act in 2013," he added.

-- In Illinois, business leaders are throwing their support behind efforts to legalize same-sex marriage in the state, after a proposed bill recently failed to get traction. From the Chicago Tribune:

In addition to Google, Orbitz Worldwide and Groupon, individual signers of the letter include Desiree Rogers, CEO of Johnson Publishing Co.; Lance Chody, CEO of Garrett Popcorn Shops; Fred Eychaner, chairman of the Newsweb Corp.; and Laura Ricketts, co-owner of the Chicago Cubs. Eychaner and Ricketts are openly gay executives who are helping fund the statewide push for same-sex marriage, the Tribune has reported.

-- Meanwhile, a Republican lawmaker in Maryland says his state's recent legalization of same-sex marriage drove him, in part, to drinking.