Activists and allies working to extend marriage rights to the LGBT community scored yet another major win on Tuesday when Delaware passed a marriage equality bill. Delaware is the 11th state in the nation to legalize same-sex marriage.
According to the Associated Press, the Delaware state Senate passed the marriage bill 12-9 on Tuesday afternoon and Gov. Jack Markell signed the bill into law just minutes afterward. Same-sex couples will now be able to legally marry in the state July 1.
“I do not intend to make any of you wait one moment longer,” said a smiling Markell to about 200 cheering supporters. “Delaware should be and will be a welcoming place to live, love and to raise a family for all who call our great state home.”
The original bill was introduced in the Democratic-controlled legislature just shy of a year after the state began recognizing same-sex civil unions and the House just passed the bill two weeks ago with a vote of 23-18.
Under the new bill, no new civil unions will be performed in Delaware after July 1. Existing civil unions will be converted to marriages over the next year. However, no new rights or benefits that weren’t already provided through civil unions will be provided through the same-sex marriages. The state will also recognize same-sex marriages performed outside of its jurisdiction.
Of course, there were opponents to the bill who claimed that legalizing same-sex marriage would have detrimental effects on everything from religious institutions to education to other forms of marriage, such as polygamy.
“Let’s be careful about the concept of social evolution,” said the Rev. Leonard Klein, a Roman Catholic priest speaking on behalf of the bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington. “When you remove male and female from the definition of marriage, all bets are off.”
However, the new law does not force clerics to perform same-sex marriages that conflict with their religious beliefs.
Despite the opponents, many more people seemed to be in support sharing marriage rights with the LGBT community.
“Today, we celebrate with the thousands of Delaware same-sex couples and their children who will soon be able to have the full recognition and respect accorded to married families,” said Susan Sommer, director of constitutional litigation at Lambda Legal.
We commend and congratulate Delaware on making progress in marriage equality. Hopefully, more states will continue to follow suit and pass into law more equal rights legislation for the LGBT community.
Check out the other states that have legalized same-sex marriage below. – nicholas robinson
