D**S
发帖数: 24887 | 1 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/11/delaware-gay-marriage_
WASHINGTON -- Democratic lawmakers in Delaware introduced a bill Thursday to
legalize same-sex marriage, with the support of legislative leaders and Gov
. Jack Markell (D).
Delaware legalized civil unions in 2011. If it were to pass a marriage
equality bill, it would become the first state to do so since the Supreme
Court arguments on the Defense of Marriage Act and Proposition 8 triggered a
significant public debate, with many lawmakers publicly expressing support
for gay marriage. Concurrently, public opinion on same-sex marriage has
shifted rapidly in its favor, buoyed by broad support among young voters.
"In 2011, when I signed civil unions, I certainly didn't have the intention
of going back to it that quickly," Markell told The Huffington Post. "But
when the advocates came to me earlier this year, and said we think it's time
, and I said, you know what it is time, and I'm happy to stand right there
with you."
The bill will receive a hearing before the state House of Representatives
next Wednesday. It includes a process for gay couples to convert their civil
unions into a marriage. According to sponsors, it protects members of the
clergy from performing any marriage that does not conform to their beliefs.
The bill would seem to have a good shot of passing through the General
Assembly, both houses of which are controlled by Democrats. They hold a 13-8
majority in the state Senate and 26-15 majority in the House.
Yet Markell indicated that he was not ready to declare victory. "I think
this could be a challenge," he said. "I've learned that when you're dealing
with getting votes out of the General Assembly, it's not done until it's
done."
Markell predicted in an interview with The Huffington Post last August that
the legislature would take up the issue in 2013. He has said that he thinks
that gay marriage is "inevitable" in his state.
Vice President Joe Biden, the state's former senator, was first in the
recent trend of politicians "evolving" to support gay marriage. In May 2012,
he said that he was "absolutely comfortable" with gay marriage, and
President Barack Obama announced his support three days later.
In the days surrounding oral arguments in the Supreme Court cases, many
Democratic and two Republican senators publicly expressed their support for
the first time. Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) was among them, doing so on April 2.
Gay marriage is currently legal in nine states and the District of Columbia.
In November 2012, neighboring Maryland legalized gay marriage by popular
vote, becoming one of three states to have done so. | D**S
发帖数: 24887 | 2 州立法机构明显民主党人占优势,州长是民主党人并且已经明确表态只要法案通过立刻
签字. 看起来势头比较乐观. 不知道在联邦高院6月有决定之前会不会就州内通过立法. | D**S
发帖数: 24887 | 3 好像昨天通过state house了,Yes: No=23:18,有五个DEM投了反对票,一个GOP投了赞成
票.不知道state senate啥时候投票. |
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