Delaware is contemplating amending its state Structure to codify same-sex marriage. The invoice, SB 100, might be heard in committee on Wednesday.
SB 100 was launched in April 2025 by Democratic Sen. Russ Huxtable of the sixth district of Delaware and is the primary leg of an modification to the Delaware Structure. The act would “set up the correct to marry as a elementary proper and that Delaware and its political subdivisions shall acknowledge marriages and difficulty marriage licenses to {couples} no matter gender.”
“[SB 100] actually got here from the group that I signify and in order that was the inspiration behind it, addressing issues that my constituents have,” Huxtable informed the Washington Blade.
CAMP Rehoboth, an LGBTQ group middle and advocacy group based mostly in Rehoboth Seaside, despatched a letter to members of the Senate Govt Committee in assist of SB 100.
“We applaud this proactive method as a result of it ensures that even when federal protections are weakened, same-sex {couples} in Delaware will retain their rights underneath Delaware legislation,” the letter reads. “We imagine that doing so NOW is essential for a number of causes, significantly within the context of evolving authorized landscapes and the erosion of civil rights lengthy acknowledged in Federal legislation.”
CAMP Rehoboth Board President Leslie Ledogar is scheduled to testify on the Wednesday listening to on behalf of CAMP Rehoboth. She hopes to convey how private this invoice is for the group.
Ledogar mentioned CAMP Rehoboth has an virtually 35-year historical past of advocating on behalf of LGBTQ individuals within the state of Delaware. Previous Board President Chris Beagle and his husband have been among the many first {couples} to be married in Sussex County after same-sex marriage was legalized within the state in 2013, with CAMP Rehoboth internet hosting the ceremony.
The letter cited issues with the potential of Obergefell v. Hodges being overturned sooner or later, the landmark 2015 Supreme Courtroom case that assured the correct to marry for same-sex {couples}.
“We actually really feel that this can be a proactive and protecting measure that ensures long-term safety for LGBTQ+ {couples},” Ledogar mentioned. “Whereas we do have that [protection] now, it may very well be simply that non permanent and simply that fleeting, and every little thing we’ve labored for and constructed may crumble, not by our personal initiative however due to the stroke of a pen.”
The letter particulars the optimistic impression that the invoice would have on Delaware’s LGBTQ group, equivalent to affirming equality and human dignity, stopping authorized backsliding and creating authorized certainty and reflecting public assist.
“[SB 100] would align the legislation with the values of a majority of Delawareans, guaranteeing that authorized frameworks replicate modern societal norms and requirements,” Ledogar mentioned.
In 2024, the Public Faith Analysis Establishment discovered that 61% of Delawareans favor permitting same-sex {couples} to marry.
Some critics of the invoice cite spiritual issues, although SB 100 explicitly protects clergy refusal, saying that “the correct to marry no matter gender doesn’t infringe upon the correct to freedom of faith as a result of spiritual organizations and members of the clergy have the correct to refuse to solemnize a wedding.”
The invoice requires a vote of two-thirds of the members elected to every home of the Basic Meeting to go. If handed, the following Basic Meeting after the following normal election additionally has to go it. Delaware is the one state within the nation that may amend its state Structure with out a vote of the individuals. Constituents can register to look at the listening to just about right here.
Different states equivalent to California, Colorado, and Hawaii have launched and handed related payments to guard the correct of all individuals of all genders to marry underneath state legislation.
Huxtable mentioned he hopes Delaware can ship a message to different states that they’ll do the identical factor and “don’t must really feel the risk from extremists.”
“I feel it’s exhibiting that the Basic Meeting in Delaware specifically are advocating for good coverage celebrating the person … We’re governing by our values and never our fears.”
