600+ AT GOVERNOR'S SIGNING OF CIVIL UNION BILL
Posted on May 12, 2011 by Mitch Crane
The newly renovated "World Cafe Live at the Queen" was rocking as 600 plus Delawareans of all sexes and sexual orientation cheered Governor Jack Markell as he signed into law SB 30, granting Civil Union rights to same-sex couples who obtain licenses and solemnize their relationships. The Bill was introduced in March and received nearly 2/3rds of the vote in first the Senate and then the House adding Delaware to the list of states that offer the same protections and obligations to same-sex couples as are offered by state law to married couple. The law goes into effect January 1, 2012.
The Governor was joined by a score of state legislators, including the bill's prime sponsors: State Senator Dave Sokola, Representative Melanie George and Senator Liane Sorenson (the only Republican senator to vote for the bill). Also in attendance were House Speaker Bob Gilligan, House Majority Leader Pete Schwartzkopf, House Majority Whip Valerie Longhurst and Senate Majority Whip Margaret Rose Henry (all are Democrats). [...]
Delaware Senate Oks Civil Unions
Posted on April 8th, 2011
By a vote of 13-6, with two absent, the Delaware Senate passed and sent to the House SB 30, the bill granting civil union rights to same-sex Delawareans. Eleven votes were needed for passage.
After two hours of debate and after defeating two amendments designed to kill the bill, and a motion to table, senators went on record in support of civil rights for LGBT citizens.
Voting for the bill were 12 Democrats (Senators Patti Blevins, George Bunting, Brian Bushweller, Anthony Deluca, Bethany Hall-Long, Margaret Rose Henry, Mike Katz, Robert Marshall, David McBride Harris McDowell, Karen Peterson, and prime sponsor Dave Sokola).One Republican, Lianne Sorenson supported the bill. [...]
Delaware Civil Union Bill filed (SB30)
Posted on March 23rd, 2011
Prime Sponsors Senators Dave Sokola (D) and Lianne Sorenson (R) and Representative Melanie George (D) have filed Senate Bill No. 30-The Civil Union Bill. After a rally headlined by Governor Jack Markell and attended by many of the co-sponsors of the Bill, members of clergy, union leaders and many scores of supporters, the Bill was filed and assigned to the Senate Administration Committee, chaired by co-sponsor Mike Katz, MD (D). If the Bill makes it out of committee, it will go to the floor of the Senate, where 9 senators are sponsors. The Bill needs 11 votes to pass. Stonewall President Mitch Crane stated that he had commitments from more than that 11, though all senators need to hear from supporters as they surely will hear from opponents. [...]
