Civil Unions are in sight: Keep up the pressure
SB 30 has made it out of committee. Senators Katz, Sokola and Blevins voted in favor of the Bill and Senator Marshall voted it out "on its merits." Bill supporters vastly outnumbered opponents at the hearing. Many opponents merely repeated the visions of devastation they predicted two years ago when SB 121- The Non-Discrimination Bill was debated.
The Civil Union Bill will NOT be a gateway to court suits demanding marriage. Unlike most other states, Delaware does not have an "Equal Protection" clause in its constitution. There would therefore be no legal argument that could be advanced by marriage proponents.
The Civil Union Bill DOES fully protect religious freedom. No member of clergy would be forced to perform civil unions, just as no member of clergy can be forced to perform marriage ceremonies now.
The Civil Union Bill would NOT force schools to teach about the acceptability of homosexual relationships. The Bill merely affords the same rights and the same obligations to those entering into civil unions as now exist, under Delaware law, to those entering into marriages.
Opponents are spreading fear and those under their influence are being told to call their legislators and condemn the Bill out of fear.
I request that all supporters call on friends and relatives wherever they live in Delaware and ask them to help by calling their own legislators. Tell them this Bill is the right thing for their constituents who are involved in committed relationships and is the right thing for Delaware.
Please make the time to pick up the phone. Be ready to go to Dover for the next round of votes; I know the thousands of LGBT citizens in committed relationships today will thank you. The many thousands more who will enter into civil unions 10 years from now will wonder what all the fuss was about!
-- Mitch Crane, President, Barbara Gittings Delaware Stonewall Democrats
