New Jersey LGBT Law

DOVER—Delaware's House of Representatives voted 26-15 Thursday night to grant legal status to same-sex civil unions, giving those couples the same rights, protections and obligations now granted only to married couples.

The vote followed three hours of debate that covered a wide range of concerns – some fiscal, some related to family relations, some related to equal access to civil unions for opposite-sex couples.

When the vote was announced, the balcony – filled with supporters of the bill – erupted into cheers, applause and cries of Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

The bill now goes to Gov. Jack Markell, who has championed gay rights throughout his public service career. Markell celebrated the passage and said he will sign the bill as soon as a suitable time and place are arranged. The bill addresses the needs of children and families throughout Delaware, ensuring their protection under the law, he said.

This is about kids throughout Delaware who will know that if there is an issue with their parents, there will be stability in their lives, Markell said. People and their loved ones will be able to protect each other under the law.

The new law will take effect Jan. 1.

With passage of the bill – S.B. 30 – Delaware becomes the eighth state to grant such legal status to same-sex couples. The bill was written to parallel Delaware's marriage code, but opponents predict it will be used as a platform to fight for same-sex marriage. That fight has emerged in New Jersey.

But for same-sex couples in Delaware, the bill represents a public and legal acknowledgement that their relationships are significant and will soon be protected by law.

Delaware's bill, which passed the Senate 13-6 last week, survived nine amendment attempts in the House, all of which House sponsor Rep. Melanie George, D-Bear/Newark, saw as designed to undermine the legislation. They would have made opposite-sex couples eligible for civil unions, replaced the bill with a purely contractual Designated Beneficiary Agreement, added language that underlined the bill was not intended to revise Delaware's marriage laws, added a fee, outlined specific benefits included or made technical changes.