Delaware adopts civil unions bill....

[one_voice]

DOVER – Delaware’s House of Representatives voted 26-15 this evening to grant legal status to same-sex civil unions, giving those couples the same rights, protections and obligations now granted to married couples.

The vote followed three hours of debate. When the vote was announced, the balcony erupted into cheers, applause and cries of “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”

With passage of the bill – S.B. 30 – Delaware becomes the eighth state to grant such legal status to same-sex couples.

The bill is written to parallel Delaware’s marriage code, but opponents say it will certainly be used to fight for same-sex marriage.

The bill, which passed the Senate 13-6 last week, survived nine amendment attempts, all of which George saw as unfriendly.

They would have made opposite-sex couples eligible for civil unions, replaced the bill with a Designated Beneficiary Agreement – purely contractual – added language that underlined the bill was not intended to revise

Delaware’s marriage laws, added a fee, outlined specific benefits included, and made other technical changes.

Gov. Jack Markell, who has championed gay rights throughout his public service career, celebrated passage and said he will sign the bill as soon as a suitable time and place is arranged.

http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20110414/NEWS/110414059/Delaware-adopts-civil-unions-bill?odyssey=mod|breaking|text|Home

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[one_voice]

1. Kick. n/t