In 2009, Massachusetts became the first state to sue the U.S. government over what's known as the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) -- the piece of legislation that precludes the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages. The lawsuit was brought by the current Attorney General of Massachusetts, Martha Coakley.

Since then, pressure has been mounting to get other state attorneys general to pledge to support such a lawsuit. Already, all attorney general candidates in Connecticut running for the Democratic nomination have pledged to join the legal fight against DOMA. Now, activists are turning their attention toward Rhode Island, where several candidates running for attorney general are facing pressure to join the fight against DOMA.

So far, one candidate for Rhode Island attorney general, Steve Archambault, has pledged to join the fight. But there are many others who have remained silent. It's time to email these candidates -- Joe Fernandez (D), Peter Kilmartin (D), Robert Rainville (D), Chris Little (Moderate Party), and Erik Wallin (R) -- and get them to pledge to support the DOMA lawsuit.

Overturning DOMA is going to take a coordinated effort. One plank in that effort is getting state attorneys general to agree that DOMA discriminates against a state's gay and lesbian population, and should be struck down by a federal court.