DOVER, May 9, 2013 (LifeSiteNews) – The state of Delaware became the 11th state to redefine marriage to include homosexual couples Tuesday, as the state senate voted 12-9 in favor of the state’s gay “marriage” bill. Governor Jack Markell signed it just one half-hour later.
“I do not intend to make any of you wait one moment longer,” Markell told a cheering crowd of about 200 homosexual activists who showed up for the vote and bill signing. “Delaware should be, is and will be a welcoming place to live and love and to raise a family for all who call our great state home.”
Delaware already had a law permitting homosexuals to enter civil unions. The new law doesn’t give gay couples any more rights or benefits than they had before, but homosexual activists argued that same-sex couples deserve the dignity and respect of being called “married.” Additionally, if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns the Defense of Marriage Act, which blocks same-sex partners from receiving federal benefits, civil unions would not automatically provide federal benefits to homosexual couples in Delaware.
The new law takes effect July 1. After that date, no new civil unions will be performed, only “marriages.” Existing civil unions will be converted to legal marriages over the next year. Additionally, the law says that Delaware will recognize all legal same-sex unions performed in other states as “marriages” under state law.
The bill will not force ordained clergy to perform same-sex “marriages” if it conflicts with their religious beliefs, but makes no allowances for innkeepers, photographers, florists, bakers and others in the wedding industry who may not wish to participate in a homosexual wedding for religious reasons.
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In previous states where the laws have been changed to permit same-sex “marriage,” religious business owners have been sued and fined for refusing to participate in homosexual ceremonies.
Nicole Theis, president of the Delaware Family Policy Council, told Delaware Online that she believes the legal impact of gay “marriage” will travel far beyond the wedding industry.
“It won't stop here,” Theis said. “Making marriage genderless changes the way government views parents. You can expect all government’s forms to reflect this. You can also expect further attacks on gender, probably even this session.”
Theis said she believed those legislators who ran on a platform of traditional values and then voted in favor of redefining marriage would face the wrath of a betrayed electorate.
“There are legislators who said they would vote ‘no’ on redefining marriage,” she said. “We trusted them. We stood by them. Now we must hold them accountable.”
She singled out one turncoat politician in particular who she thinks will be ousted by her constituents because of her vote. “We did poll Sen. [Bethany] Hall-Long’s district, because she has very active evangelical churches in her district,” Theis told Delaware Online. “According to that polling, she will be replaced.”
Delaware’s vote to redefine marriage comes just a week after Rhode Island voted to do the same. Next on the list may be Minnesota, whose State House is expected to vote on a gay marriage bill today and send it to the Senate to be voted on Monday.
Eleven states currently allow same-sex “marriages,” including Delaware, Maine, Rhode Island, Washington, Maryland, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Iowa.
Gay “marriage” is also legal in the District of Columbia.