Same-sex marriage in Delaware explained

Same-sex marriage has been legally recognized in Delaware since July 1, 2013. Governor Jack Markell signed legislation legalizing same-sex marriage on May 7, 2013, just hours after its passage in the Delaware House of Representatives and Senate. Delaware was the eleventh U.S. state, and the twelfth U.S. jurisdiction (after the District of Columbia), to allow same-sex couples to marry, preceding Minnesota and Rhode Island by one month.

Delaware previously extended recognition to same-sex relationships in the form of civil unions, which granted same-sex couples the "rights, benefits, protections, and responsibilities" of married spouses. Civil unions became available in Delaware on January 1, 2012, following the enactment of legislation signed by Governor Markell on May 11, 2011.

Civil unions

In March 2011, senators David Sokola and Melanie George Smith introduced a bill to allow civil unions to the Delaware General Assembly.[1] It passed the Senate Administrative Services Committee on March 31,[2] and the full Senate by a vote of 13–6 on April 7, 2011.[3] It passed the House of Representatives in a 26–15 vote on April 14.[4] Governor Jack Markell signed the bill into law on May 11, 2011, and it took effect on January 1, 2012.[5] At the signing, he said:[6] Delaware civil unions provided the "rights, benefits, protections, and responsibilities" of marriage under a different name.[7] Approximately 565 civil union licenses were issued in 2012, with 250 of these being issued in Sussex County, 235 in New Castle County, and 80 in Kent County.[8]

The ability to enter into civil unions was closed off on July 1, 2013, and all civil unions were converted to marriages by July 1, 2014.[9]

Same-sex marriage

In March 2012, Governor Jack Markell said he thought that the legalization of same-sex marriage in Delaware was "inevitable" and would be passed "probably within the next few years".[10] In September 2012, Representative Peter Schwartzkopf, who became House Speaker in January 2013, said he expected the General Assembly to vote on same-sex marriage in 2013 and that he would support it, but was uncertain of the legislation's prospects.[11] On February 1, 2013, in anticipation of legislative activity, Francis Malooly, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Wilmington, authored a letter to parishioners stating that marriage is a covenant between a man and a woman that must be "cherished and defended".[12]

In April 2013, a bill was introduced to legalize same-sex marriage while eliminating civil unions and converting them to marriages by July 2014 if not dissolved earlier. Malooly wrote a letter to legislators on April 15 that said that marriage is not "just about love and commitment between two people" as many think but "it is also about the unique expression of love that only and man and woman as husband and wife can give to each other", that marriage is not a "label" but a "communion" that "is impossible without the sexual difference".[13] The Delaware House Administration Committee advanced the bill to the full House on April 18.[14] Governor Markell said he would sign it if it passed.[15] It passed the House on April 23 on a 23–18 vote.[16] The Senate Executive Committee approved the legislation on May 1, and it passed the Senate on May 7 on a 12–9 vote.[17] Markell signed the bill outside the Assembly building within an hour of the vote.[18] [19] [20] The legislation was titled An act to amend Title 13 of the Delaware code relating to domestic relations to provide for same-gender civil marriage and to convert existing civil unions to civil marriages.[21] The bill added the following section to the state's marriage statute:[22]

The legislation also gave Delaware courts authority over divorce proceedings in the case of a same-sex couple married in Delaware who resided in a state that would not grant them a divorce because it did not recognize their marriage. Since June 26, 2015, same-sex marriage is legal throughout the United States, rendering this provision moot.[23]

State Senator Karen Peterson came out as lesbian during the debate on May 7, becoming the state's first-ever openly LGBT legislator.[24] When the statute took effect on July 1, Peterson and her partner were the first same-sex couple to legally convert their civil union into a marriage.[25] The first same-sex couple to marry were Joseph Daigle and Dan Cole, in a semi-public ceremony attended by hundreds and officiated by New Castle County Clerk of the Peace Ken Boulden on July 1, 2013 in the Marian Cruger Coffin Gardens at Gibraltar Mansion in Wilmington. Opening remarks for the first marriage were provided by Attorney General Beau Biden, an invocation was provided by Rector of the Trinity Episcopal Church Pat Downing, and a reading was performed by poet Devon Miller-Duggan. Daigle and Cole were activists heavily involved in the process of passage, and Cole worked on writing and implementing the law.[26] [27]

Subsequent developments

A bill removing "homosexuality" and "lesbianism" from the definition of misconduct which may be used as grounds for a divorce was introduced to the Delaware General Assembly on March 13, 2016.[28] The bill passed the House on May 10 in a 36–4 vote,[29] and the Senate on June 9 in a unanimous 21–0 vote. Governor Jack Markell signed the bill into law on June 28.[30]

Demographics and marriage statistics

2,092 marriage licenses were issued to same-sex couples from July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014. In Sussex County and Kent County, around 37% and 10% of marriage licenses were granted to same-sex couples, respectively. Same-sex marriages made up around 26% of all marriages statewide.[31] The high percentage is mostly attributed to the fact that same-sex marriages could not be legally performed in the neighbouring states of New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

The 2020 U.S. census showed that there were 3,194 married same-sex couple households (1,428 male couples and 1,766 female couples) and 1,679 unmarried same-sex couple households in Delaware.[32]

Public opinion

Public opinion for same-sex marriage in Delaware
Poll sourceDates administeredSample sizeMargin of errorSupportOppositionDo not know / refused
Public Religion Research InstituteMarch 9 – December 7, 2023169 adults± 0.82%35%3%
Public Religion Research InstituteMarch 11 – December 14, 2022??29%2%
Public Religion Research InstituteMarch 8 – November 9, 2021??32%2%
Public Religion Research InstituteJanuary 7 – December 20, 2020192 adults?29%11%
Public Religion Research InstituteApril 5 – December 23, 2017219 adults?27%15%
Public Religion Research InstituteMay 18, 2016 – January 10, 2017302 adults?25%13%
Public Religion Research InstituteApril 29, 2015 – January 7, 2016239 adults?25%9%
Public Religion Research InstituteApril 2, 2014 – January 4, 2015157 adults?31%12%
New York Times/CBS News/YouGovSeptember 20 – October 1, 2014471 likely voters± 5.2%31%15%
Global Strategy GroupFebruary 12–14, 2014603 likely voters± 4.0%37%9%
Public Policy PollingJanuary 26–28, 2011605 registered voters± 4.0%47%5%

Notes:

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: News Journal . Delaware government: Civil unions bill filed in Dover . Beth . Miller . March 23, 2011 . April 13, 2011.
  2. Web site: Delaware civil unions bill clears committee. Beth Miller. The News Journal. 31 March 2011.
  3. Web site: Delaware Senate passes civil unions bill . Lou . Chibbaro Jr. . Washington Blade . April 7, 2011.
  4. Web site: Delaware adopts civil unions bill . Beth . Miller . The News Journal . April 14, 2011.
  5. News: Miller. Beth. Governor signs Delaware civil unions bill. December 29, 2012. USA Today. May 12, 2011.
  6. News: Mucha. Peter. Same-sex unions legalized in Delaware. January 23, 2013. Philadelphia Inquirer. May 12, 2013.
  7. http://legis.delaware.gov/LIS/LIS146.NSF/vwlegislation/916160214DBB1927852578540067CE78 Senate Bill 30, "An Act to Amend Title 13 of the Delaware Code Relating to Civil Unions
  8. Web site: Number of civil unions 'exceeded expectations' . Delaware Newszap . 2012-12-30 . 2014-04-05 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131106045548/http://delaware.newszap.com/centraldelaware/118809-70/number-of-civil-unions-exceeded-expectations . 2013-11-06 .
  9. Web site: Pam's House Blend . Delaware Becomes Eleventh State to Legalize Marriage Equality [Updated]]. Laurel. Ramseyer. May 7, 2013 . May 7, 2013.
  10. News: Delaware governor says gay marriage is "inevitable" in his state. 16 December 2012. Reuters. March 2, 2012.
  11. News: Starkey . Jonathan . Schwartzkopf: gay marriage a "no-brainer" . December 16, 2012. DelawareOnline. September 26, 2012.
  12. News: Delaware Bishop Attacks Marriage Equality: 'Unrestrained Romanticism Damages Marriage' . February 4, 2013. Think Progress. Ford. Zack.
  13. News: Marriage is not for government to 'define or redefine,' says bishop. May 7, 2013. The Catholic Sun. April 17, 2013.
  14. News: Bill authorizing same-sex marriage in Delaware clears committee, headed to House floor . https://web.archive.org/web/20130425023822/http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-04-17/national/38596783_1_civil-unions-equality-delaware-house-floor . dead . April 25, 2013 . April 23, 2013. Washington Post. April 17, 2013.
  15. News: Gov. Markell tells activists he would sign marriage equality bill. Delaware Online. April 9, 2013 . April 23, 2012.
  16. News: Dawson. James. Same-sex marriage bill clears state House. April 23, 2013. WDDE. April 23, 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130512174813/http://www.wdde.org/42982-same-sex-marriage-passed-house. May 12, 2013.
  17. News: Ford . Zack . BREAKING: Delaware To Become 11th State With Marriage Equality . May 7, 2013 . Think Progress . May 7, 2013.
  18. Web site: Delaware, Continuing a Trend, Becomes the 11th State to Allow Same-Sex Unions. The New York Times. May 7, 2013.
  19. News: Chase. Randall. Delaware to Become 11th State With Gay Marriage. 7 May 2013. ABC News. 7 May 2013.
  20. News: Byrne. Tom. Delaware becomes 11th state to approve same-sex marriage. May 7, 2013. WDDE. May 7, 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20131229085636/http://www.wdde.org/43765-delaware-approves-same-sex-marriage. December 29, 2013.
  21. Web site: 147th General Assembly, House Bill #75. State of Delaware Official Website.
  22. http://delcode.delaware.gov/title13/c001/sc01/ TITLE 13 Domestic Relations CHAPTER 1. MARRIAGE
  23. http://legis.delaware.gov/LIS/lis147.nsf/vwLegislation/HB+75/$file/legis.html?open § 1504. Jurisdiction; residence;procedure
  24. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/07/karen-peterson-gay_n_3232462.html "Karen Peterson, Delaware State Senator, Comes Out During Gay Marriage Debate"
  25. News: Delaware among leaders as nation changes course on gay marriage. July 1, 2013. Wilmington News Journal. July 1, 2013.
  26. News: O'Malley. Shana. Delaware grooms celebrate first same-sex wedding. July 2, 2013. WHYY. July 2, 2013.
  27. News: Quinones. Todd. Delaware Sees First Same-Sex Marriage Ceremony. July 2, 2013. CBS Philadelphia. July 2, 2013.
  28. Web site: Lawmakers to Decide if Homosexuality Is Grounds for Divorce in Delaware . NBC10 Philadelphia . May 10, 2016.
  29. Web site: Delaware considers homosexuality as grounds for divorce . Marilyn Stowe Family Law . May 11, 2016.
  30. https://legiscan.com/DE/bill/HB320/2015 DE HB320 | 2015-2016 | 148th General Assembly
  31. Web site: Delaware's gay marriage boom may ebb . Fisher, James . The News Journal . July 14, 2014.
  32. Web site: PCT1405 Couple Households, By Type. 11 December 2023. United States Census Bureau.