Why should we support Jack Markell for Delaware governor?  Go to the On A Political Note page.  Dems, remember to vote for Jack in the Sept. 9 Democratic primary! 

To see where the U.S. presidential candidates stand on LGBT civil rights, click here.  We support Barack Obama, whose HRC questionnaire is here.

NOT PASSED; THE BILL IS DEAD   

Senate Resolution 13 (S.R. 13)would have brought a number of open government reforms to the Delaware Senate, including abolishment of the infamous "desk drawer veto."  (The desk drawer veto allows the committee chair to just ignore a bill & not bring it up for discussion or a vote, no matter how many legislators or citizens want it.  It has been the reason our various anti-discrimination bills have died in the Senate.) S.R. 13 died in the Senate Permanent Rules Committee chaired by Sen. DeLuca & comprised of Sens. Adams, Amick, Blevins, McDowell & Simpson.  Sens. Amick & Simpson were sponsors.

NOT PASSED; THE BILL IS DEAD

Delaware Senate Bill 4 (S.B. 4) would have ended the outrageous secrecy of the General Assembly by ending its exemption from the Freedom of Information Act.  While not a specifically LGBT bill, our LGB nondiscrimination bills have been killed by "desk drawer vetoes" and backroom deals.  S.B. 4 died in the Senate Executive Committee chaired by Sen. Thurman Adams and including Sens. Blevins, Copeland, DeLuca, McBride and Sorenson.  Sens. Copeland, McBride and Sorenson were co-sponsors of the bill.

NOT PASSED; THE BILL IS DEAD 

Delaware Senate Bill 141 (S.B. 141) would have outlawed sexual orientation discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, insurance and public works contracting.  For the text of the bill & complete info click here.  It died in the Senate Insurance & Elections Committee chaired by Sen. Blevins & including Sens. Cook, Copeland, McDowell, Sokola and Still.  Sens. Blevins, McDowell & Sokola were supportive.  Sens. Cook, Copeland & Still were opposed.  This petition was created by Jack Markell in support of Delaware Senate Bill 141.

NOT PASSED; THE BILL IS DEAD 

Delaware Senate Bill 10 (S.B. 10) would have made a State of Delaware employee's straight or gay domestic partner eligible for the same benefits as a spouse.  It died in the Senate Finance Committee chaired by Sen. Nancy Cook & including Sens. Amick, Cloutier, Henry & McBride.  Click here for the text of the bill & complete info. 

NOT PASSED; THE BILL IS DEAD

Delaware House Bill 167 (H.B. 167) would have required hospital visitation privileges for any individual who is named as a requested visitor by the patient (regardless of kinship or marital status).  This would obviously have stopped LGBT partners from being turned away.  It would have also required hospitals to honor advanced directives and similar documents.  For the text of the bill & further info click here.  H.B. 167 got out of committee but died in the full House.

(THANKFULLY) NOT PASSED; THE BILL IS DEAD     

Delaware Senate Bill 156 was Sen. Still's perennial attempt to change our Delaware constitution to not only ban gay marriage but even civil unions & domestic partnerships.  It died in the Senate Executive Committee chaired by Sen. Adams & including Sens. Blevins, Copeland, DeLuca & Sorenson.  For the text of the bill & further info, click here.  What was even more disgusting is that Rep. Pamela Thornburg (R) had joined the most virulently anti-gay lawmakers in sponsoring this bill.  She said the Amish want it.

Emailing your Delaware legislators

Do you want to inform your state senator and representative about any aspect of the gross inequality of LGBT Delawareans?  See the e-addresses of your public servants below:

© 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 Mr. Douglas Marshall-Steele