The fight for marriage equality has heated up as not only one but two states advanced measures that would allow same sex marriage. First came the news that Rhode Island’s marriage equality bill had advanced past the Senate Judiciary committee:
Late this afternoon the Rhode Island Senate Judiciary Committee voted 7-4 to recommend S38, the marriage equality bill, to the full Senate. This move sets up Rhode Island to join the five other New England states in allowing for same-sex marriages.
positions Rhode Island, the final holdout in New England, to pass marriage equality. This.The vote on the full floor of the Senate will be tomorrow (Wednesday).
Then later on today came the news that Delaware is a step ahead of Rhode Island and had also made advances in a similar bill that would allow same sex couples the right to marry:
DOVER, Del. (AP) — The state House on Tuesday narrowly approved a bill legalizing gay marriage in Delaware, barely a year after the state began recognizing same-sex civil unions.
The measure cleared the House on a 23-to-18 vote and now goes to the Senate, where supporters and opponents expect another close vote.
Democratic Gov. Jack Markell has promised to sign the bill if it passes the Democrat-led legislature.
“It’s the right thing to do,” said Markell, who met with supporters of the bill in his Legislative Hall office immediately after Tuesday’s vote, which saw five Democrats break ranks with their party and oppose the measure.
What does this mean? Well for one it is a great day to see that all the hard work of LGBT activists and advocates of equal rights is gaining momentum. And it shows that politicians and legislation is finally beginning to reflect the majority of the citizens of this country that support equal rights. In what could now be three states (Delaware, Rhode Island, and Illinois) that are all making advances in marriage equality legislation then we’d be up to 12 states (and the District of Columbia) that have marriage equality. My hope is that this will be taken into account during the DOMA and Prop 8 decisions from the Supreme Court in the next few months.
What the heck is keeping a Executive Order to ban Sexual Equality Discrimination from being created and implemented?
Laws against Racial Discrimination were created…. why not against Sexual Equality Discrimination? So that all who want can marry, are payed equal wages, and people can no longer be discriminated against based on sexual orientation!
As a human being I do DEMAND full and total EQUALITY!