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Delaware Approves Civil Unions
Special Report - April 19, 2011
Delaware is poised to become the eighth state in the nation to pass a law to offer same-sex couples nearly all the same rights and benefits as married couples. In a 26–15 vote on April 14, the Delaware House of Representatives gave final legislative approval to SB 30—An Act to Amend Title 13 of the Delaware Code Relating to Civil Unions. Governor Jack Markell (D-Del.) is expected to sign the bill in May. It would go into effect on January 1, 2012.
SB 30 amends Delaware’s statute on domestic relationships to now include civil unions, defined as “a legal union between two individuals of the same sex.” It further states that couples who enter into a civil union “shall have all the same rights, protections and benefits … [as] married spouses.” Under the new law, Delaware will recognize civil unions performed in other states. However, it also clearly states that pastors and government officials who are authorized to perform marriages in the state cannot be forced to solemnize civil unions.
In February, Hawaii became the most recent state to pass legislation that would extend most of the benefits of marriage to same-sex couples. California, Oregon, Nevada and Washington state allow domestic partnerships, and Illinois and New Jersey allow civil unions.
“We have seen a concerted effort on the part of anti-marriage advocates to chip away at the foundational block of society—the family—by first weakening marriage through civil unions legislation, like this Delaware bill, in order to crack open the door to same-sex ‘marriage,’” said Bill Brooks, president of the North Carolina Family Policy Council. “Their deliberate efforts and slow, but definite, victories in states like Delaware, Hawaii, and Illinois just make North Carolina that much more vulnerable to marriage redefinition without a state constitutional amendment to protect the age-old definition of marriage.”
Brooks added, “North Carolina’s legislators should act now to pass SB 106—Defense of Marriage, so that North Carolinians can finally vote to include this important protection in the State Constitution, safe from the whims of judicial activists and politicized legislators.”
Related resources:
DOMA Repeal Introducted - March 23, 2011
Bar Proprosal Fails Supreme Test - March 18, 2011
U.S. House to Intervene in DOMA Defense - March 15, 2011
Maryland Bill Fails to Advance - March 14, 2011
Grant Given to Fight Marriage - March 1, 2011
Asheville Passes LGBT Legislation - February 25, 2011
Marriage Protection Amendment Filed - February 24, 2011
Marriage Battles Continue - February 21, 2011
Majority for Traditional Marriage - February 15, 2011
Proposed Asheville Ordinance - February 14, 2011
Marriage Battle Rundown - February 2, 2011
D.C. Marriage Case Snuffed by Court - January 19, 2011
Marriage Amendment Support Continues - January 3, 2011
Assault On Marriage Intensifies - November 12, 2010
ADF Petitions U.S. Supreme Court - October 15, 2010
Judge Says Federal DOMA Flawed - July 9, 2010
D.C. Appeals Court Rejects Marriage - July 20, 2010
N.C. Voters Want Marriage Amendment - April 27, 2010
The Issue That Will Not Go Away - FNC - April, 2010
An Update on the Battle over Marriage Redefinition - FNC - April, 2010
D.C. Issues Homosexual Marriage Licenses - March 4, 2010
Court Rejects D.C. Marriage Referendum - February 24, 2010
D.C. Mayor Signs Same-Sex "Marriage" Bill - December 21, 2009
Judge Rules Texas DOMA Unconstitutional - October 16, 2009
Bill Would Repeal Federal Marriage Law - September 18, 2009
White House Wants DOMA Repeal - August 19, 2009
Justice Defends Marriage - June 22, 2009
Lawsuit Challenges Federal DOMA - March 6, 2009
Three-Fourths Support NC Marriage Amendment - February 25, 2009
Council Urges Marriage Vote - February 20, 2009
White House Seeks Pro-Homosexual Agenda - January 21, 2009
Marriage Amendment Bill Filed in NC House - July 3, 2008
Copyright © 2012. North Carolina Family Policy Council. All rights reserved.
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