Same-sex state bill announced in Delaware
Same-sex state bill announced
Three days after Gov. Jack Markell urged students to participate in local efforts advocating for marriage equality, lawmakers introduced the Marriage Equality Act-legislation that if passed, will grant equal protection and rights to same-sex couples.
Markell joined other legislators Thursday in Wilmington to announce House Bill 75, a bill that would recognize marriage between people of the same sex in Delaware. Drafted by Equality Delaware and sponsored by State Rep. Melanie George Smith (D-Bear), the bill would allow same-sex couples to obtain marriage licenses, convert existing civil unions to marriages and not require individual churches to perform marriages, according to a press release by Equality Delaware.
“We must use this momentum, this energy and this evidence of growing support to take another historic step toward true equality,” Markell stated in his weekly address on Friday. “Together, we will write the next chapter in history and prove, once again, in Delaware, justice and equality move one way- forward.”
Lisa Goodman, president of Equality Delaware, said that if enacted, the bill will allow marriage between people of the same sex, convert current civil unions to marriages and protect religious freedom by explicitly stating a church will never be required to conduct a marriage.
The bill, Goodman said, must pass before the General Assembly completes its session at the end of June.
“June 30 is the deadline,” Goodman said. “We believe the bill will pass well in advance of that.”
The bill’s announcement comes two years after Markell, a supporter of same-sex marriage, signed the Civil Union and Equality Act, a law legalizing civil unions. Marriage “between persons of the same gender” is prohibited, according to state law.
According to a poll released by NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll last week, 53 percent of Americans favor allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry. A poll done by Global Strategy Group last month mirrored the nation’s sentiments, finding 54 percent of 2014 voters in the state support same-sex marriage.
State Rep. Paul Baumbach spoke at the Marriage Equality rally last week at the Trabant University Center in support of marriage between people of the same sex. Baumbach, among one of 23 co-sponsors of the bill, said it will “even out the playing field” because marriages do not solely happen within churches.
“It’s unfair for the government to treat one class of citizens differently than another,” Baumbach said. “The government is involved, and therefore we need to make sure it’s fairly applied.”
Students encouraging legislators to help pass the bill is instrumental to its success, Baumbach said. Even out-of-state students should get involved in support of the bill, he said, as they can help influence the state’s marriage policy.
Reflecting on the Marriage Equality rally, Markell stated in his weekly message the debate on same-sex marriage leaves students “perplexed,” as he compared the movement’s momentum to those throughout history.
“Much as the civil rights and women’s liberation movements served as a call to action for young adults of the ‘60s and ‘70s, debating issues like marriage equality and gender identity will become defining moments of their lifetime,” Markell said.
Equality Delaware has coordinated efforts within the university to canvass, set up phone banks and write letters, Goodman said.
“There are always roadblocks,” Goodman said. “Passing legislation is never simple. It requires a lot of hard work and a lot of advance planning, and we believe we’ve done a lot of that work and will continue to do so until the last vote is taken.”
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Three days after Gov. Jack Markell urged students to participate in local efforts advocating for marriage equality, lawmakers introduced the Marriage Equality Act-legislation that if passed, will grant equal protection and rights to same-sex couples.
Markell joined other legislators Thursday in Wilmington to announce House Bill 75, a bill that would recognize marriage between people of the same sex in Delaware. Drafted by Equality Delaware and sponsored by State Rep. Melanie George Smith (D-Bear), the bill would allow same-sex couples to obtain marriage licenses, convert existing civil unions to marriages and not require individual churches to perform marriages, according to a press release by Equality Delaware.
“We must use this momentum, this energy and this evidence of growing support to take another historic step toward true equality,” Markell stated in his weekly address on Friday. “Together, we will write the next chapter in history and prove, once again, in Delaware, justice and equality move one way- forward.”
Lisa Goodman, president of Equality Delaware, said that if enacted, the bill will allow marriage between people of the same sex, convert current civil unions to marriages and protect religious freedom by explicitly stating a church will never be required to conduct a marriage.
The bill, Goodman said, must pass before the General Assembly completes its session at the end of June.
“June 30 is the deadline,” Goodman said. “We believe the bill will pass well in advance of that.”
The bill’s announcement comes two years after Markell, a supporter of same-sex marriage, signed the Civil Union and Equality Act, a law legalizing civil unions. Marriage “between persons of the same gender” is prohibited, according to state law.
According to a poll released by NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll last week, 53 percent of Americans favor allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry. A poll done by Global Strategy Group last month mirrored the nation’s sentiments, finding 54 percent of 2014 voters in the state support same-sex marriage.
State Rep. Paul Baumbach spoke at the Marriage Equality rally last week at the Trabant University Center in support of marriage between people of the same sex. Baumbach, among one of 23 co-sponsors of the bill, said it will “even out the playing field” because marriages do not solely happen within churches.
“It’s unfair for the government to treat one class of citizens differently than another,” Baumbach said. “The government is involved, and therefore we need to make sure it’s fairly applied.”
Students encouraging legislators to help pass the bill is instrumental to its success, Baumbach said. Even out-of-state students should get involved in support of the bill, he said, as they can help influence the state’s marriage policy.
Reflecting on the Marriage Equality rally, Markell stated in his weekly message the debate on same-sex marriage leaves students “perplexed,” as he compared the movement’s momentum to those throughout history.
“Much as the civil rights and women’s liberation movements served as a call to action for young adults of the ‘60s and ‘70s, debating issues like marriage equality and gender identity will become defining moments of their lifetime,” Markell said.
Equality Delaware has coordinated efforts within the university to canvass, set up phone banks and write letters, Goodman said.
“There are always roadblocks,” Goodman said. “Passing legislation is never simple. It requires a lot of hard work and a lot of advance planning, and we believe we’ve done a lot of that work and will continue to do so until the last vote is taken.”
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