A crowd of about 600 people gathered at the Queen Theater in Wilmington, Del., to watch Gov. Jack Markell sign into law a civil unions bill tailored to same-sex couples. The law zipped through the state's House and Senate, with both chambers voting at a ratio of almost 2-1 in favor, and now has been signed.
Effective Jan. 1, 2012, this law will provide legal protections and benefits for same-sex couples who are legally joined. This makes Delaware the eighth state to allow civil unions for same-sex partners.
“Tonight, we say to children of gay and lesbian parents in committed relationships all over our state — and there are so many wonderful kids, including many here tonight, growing up in those families all over our state — we say to you: It doesn't matter if your parents are gay or straight,” Markell told the crowd. “You are a family. And while we've known it, and you've known it for years, tonight, that equality becomes real under law.”
Effective Jan. 1, 2012, this law will provide legal protections and benefits for same-sex couples who are legally joined. This makes Delaware the eighth state to allow civil unions for same-sex partners.
“Tonight, we say to children of gay and lesbian parents in committed relationships all over our state — and there are so many wonderful kids, including many here tonight, growing up in those families all over our state — we say to you: It doesn't matter if your parents are gay or straight,” Markell told the crowd. “You are a family. And while we've known it, and you've known it for years, tonight, that equality becomes real under law.”
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