In Maryland, a bill to provide for full gay marriage died in the state House of Delegates without reaching a vote. In contrast, Hawaii and Illinois have achieved the lesser (but still important) intermediate goal of civil unions for same sex couples. Colorado and Delaware may be joining them. Will this be a case of several tortoises overtaking the hare in the pursuit of marriage equality for all? When the Maryland proponents of the bill so disappointingly withdrew it because they recognized that they just didn’t have the votes, I was left wondering if they had perhaps erred in attempting to go for broke, insisting on full marriage equality, rather than the intermediate step of first settling for civil unions, as other states have done. Even if they had succeeded in passing the bill, there would have been a delay pending an all but certain public referendum, with no guarantee of success. A less ambitious bill would likely have passed, and could already have obtained the Governor’s signature, with significantly reduced prospects for defeat at a public ballot. Instead, there will be a delay of at least a year before the next attempt - and the same likely opposition and ballot hurdle to overcome.
Already this year, Illinois and Hawaii have secured civil unions, without the same vigorous opposition. This week, Colorado and Delaware may have a step to joining them.
In Colorado, the Democrat controlled Senate approved a bill, which now goes to the House. Approval will not be possible without at least some support from Republicans, but this is increasingly likely, given the divisions on LGBT equality which have recently become evident in the GOP. This was demonstrated once again in the Senate vote, when three Republicans voted in favour:
Republicans hold a one-vote advantage in the House — but backers of the bill think that, as with the Senate, there will be some Republicans that break with their party on this particular issue. Republican Sens. Ellen Roberts, Jean White, and Nancy Spence all voted in favor of this bill. “I believe strongly in protecting each individual’s rights, and this bill does that,” Roberts said.
Read more: Colorado House should give civil unions fair hearing - Boulder Daily Camera
Before it even faces a vote though, it must get through a preliminary committee. Its fate depends on precisely which committee the Speaker sends it to for scrutiny - a hostile one could kill it. has promised that the bill will have a “fair” hearing.
Republican House Speaker Frank McNulty again avoided taking a position on the civil unions question Thursday. He said he hasn’t decided which House committee will consider the bill, a decision that could determine whether the matter passes on to the full House or dies.
“As we’ve said before, it will receive a fair hearing, as we hope all bills receive a fair hearing,” he said. .
-Vail Daily
We shall see.
In Delaware, the process has only just begun, but as promised earlier, the necessary bill has now been introduced:
Yesterday, at a press conference on the steps of Legislative Hall in Dover, primary sponsors Senator David Sokola and Representative Melanie George introduced a comprehensive civil unions bill to great fanfare. Speaking impassionedly, they explained that now is the time for state law to catch up with the reality of people’s daily lives.
The bill, SB 30, would provide all of the rights, benefits, and obligations of marriage to same-sex couples, but would not allow same-sex couples to obtain a marriage license. Civil unions, though short of full marriage, would ensure that same-sex couples in Delaware have the ability to make medical decisions for one another, jointly adopt their children, make end of life decisions, and inherit property, among so many other vital rights. Currently, the bill has 29 co-sponsors between the Senate and House, out of a 62 member joint legislature.
Delaware Governor Jack Markell offered his support for the bill, strongly and publicly.
-HRC
I do not yet have any idea of the prospects for success - but I will be watching.
