MARRIAGE EQUALITY IS THE LAW

Filed in National by on May 7, 2013

The Delaware Senate has just passed HB 75, the Marriage Equality bill, 12 to 9. The vote went as we expected, with Senator Hall Long deciding at the last minute to vote yes. Thank you to her. I know I and others have been tough on her, and I know her vote was not needed and so she could have skipped it or not voted, but she stood up and voted to be on the right side of history. And thank you to Senators Blevins, Bushweller, Cloutier, Henry, Townsend, Peterson, Marshall, McDowell, McBride, Poore and Sokola for your votes today. We will have your back. Senators Townsend, Marshall, Bushweller and Peterson gave amazing speeches, but I would like to clear up something for the national media, who are already running with this, but Karen Peterson has been out as gay for years. She did not break news today. But hey, who am I to ruin your story?

I am told that Governor Markell is going to sign this bill right away, on the steps of the General Assembly. Here is a picture of him in the halls right now:

We will have a pic of the signing in 10-12 minutes.

Here is Rob Tornoe’s great cartoon:

And the Governor signs the bill, making the title of this post finally legally and technically accurate.

How the votes broke down:

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  1. Wednesday Open Thread [5.8.13] : Delaware Liberal | May 8, 2013
  1. Josh says:

    Huge props to this blog for exceptionally good coverage throughout this process. Your whip count proved dead on and I’m sure a lot of the swing votes were swayed in no small part because of the great work you did to encourage grassroots lobbying.

  2. Delaware Dem says:

    Equality Delaware and all the people who called their state reps and Senators deserve the credit. But thanks.

  3. AOINE says:

    Drove past him crossing from Tatnall to Leg Hall…….

    And I thought to myself…….wonder if he is signing it today……?

    Glad my instincts were right

    Way to go Delaware!

  4. DelGuy says:

    Equality Delaware needs to do everything possible to make sure that Cloutier and Hall-Long survive their next elections. Great job on this vote, but let’s keep up the momentum on this issue by protecting those who did the right thing.

  5. Delaware Dem says:

    They will. Both are from upstate and hence more moderate districts that will not throw them out based on this vote. Yes, even Hall Long’s district.

  6. heragain says:

    Well, Senator Cloutier just nailed it down. If she gets a contest, it’ll be from the right.

  7. El Somnambulo says:

    Just a note about Bethany: She did NOT decide to vote yes at the last minute. She just chose not to announce it.

    This was not an easy vote for her, and she deserves major props for her vote.

    Thank you, Senator!

  8. ModerateEye says:

    Thanks to Sen. Cloutier and Hall-Long! Dems in District 5 better be ready to help Cloutier back into office. I am sure her party isn’t happy today.

  9. Jason330 says:

    It is amazing to me how things change slowly, then all of a sudden.

  10. Jason330 says:

    1) Tornoe is a goddam genius.

    2) Lopez is a fraud, as expected.

  11. heragain says:

    I know, that cartoon is epic. Hope Maddow sees it.

  12. Delaware Dem says:

    A close up of the signing:

  13. Dorian Gray says:

    As always… so proud to be an east coast, liberal elite! Let’s do legal weed next.

  14. heragain says:

    Kate Clinton just gave a shoutout to Karen Peterson.

    Some of you will know what that means. 😉

  15. Just another Dave says:

    Well done, Delaware! Beautiful photos. And scenes like this are being repeated more and more frequently, in state after state, and in country after country, and the rate of our progress is still continuing to accelerate….

  16. Dale says:

    El Somnambulo:

    Could you provide more detail as to what the thought process was for Hall Long? It isn’t just lurid interest. It is helpful to build institutional knowledge about why legislators are undecided about this issue and what factors break their internal deadlock.

  17. ebradlee10 says:

    Proud to be a Delawarean.

  18. Delaware Dem says:

    By the way, in the top of the last picture, the one with the Governor holding up the bill, you see Lt. Governor Matt Denn standing next to Senator Bryan Townsend. Now, that is a damn nice ticket for 2016. Denn-Townsend.

  19. Dale says:

    I hope that progressives in DE will see fit to support Cloutier in the next election cycle. It is critical that fight the myth created by antigay forces that a Repub voting for SSM is a death wish.

    In fact, the vast majority of Repubs who support SSM are not primaried and do not lose. And those who do lose their seats almost never lose on the basis of an SSM vote. However, there have been approximately 3 or 4 instances nationwide in which an SSM did play a major role and the anti-gay side plays that up to the max to terrorize other GOP legislators.

    So I would humbly ask DE progressives to help their LGB brothers and sisters and protect Cloutier for one election cycle. After that, there is no further obligation.

  20. bamboozer says:

    Great day for Delaware, now for the gnashing of teeth, moans and predictions of doom from the far right. Sussex, this means you.

  21. DelGuy says:

    There should be a fundraiser for Sen. Cloutier in Rehoboth Beach. Since their local Republican Senator (Lopez) voted against the bill, Sen. Cloutier deserves the financial support of those in the Rehoboth Beach area who appreciate her vote in favor of marriage equality.

  22. Delaware Dem says:

    Dale, I am involved with the Progressive Democrats for Delaware (PDD). Typically, we only endorse Democrats, given our group name. But you raise an interesting question and I do think it will be considered by our Endorsement Committee. But I don’t speak for them.

  23. heragain says:

    Before everyone starts throwing money at an R who runs in a strong D and socially liberal district, how about we see if anyone runs against her? We DO have other candidates, and other districts, that we need to win.

  24. Delaware Dem says:

    True enough. Is Cloutier even up in 2014? Did she get elected to a 2 year or a four year term?

  25. AOINE says:

    @ bamboozler- not everyone in sussex- only those west of Route 5 will say the world is ending

    Can’t wait to read the far right commentary….already seen was as a comment

    ” why didn’t those legislators vote their constituency?”

    Obvious answer….l.UHHHHHHHH DUH, THEY DID,

  26. anon says:

    @heragin: It’s easy to say that Sen. Cloutier is running in a strong D/socially liberal district, but she ran against a strong D/socially liberal/intellectually brilliant candidate who ran a good campaign, and beat him pretty soundly. I was devastated when Counihan didn’t win, but today, I’m proud to have her as my state senator.

  27. Jason330 says:

    “Denn/Townsend 2016” …we need a “like” button.

  28. Dale says:

    Just looked it up. Cloutier is up in 2016. That is pretty far away and I’d be amazed if this issue is still hot by then.

    Perhaps it would be more useful to consider whether there are any pro-gay Representatives who deserve to be protected and/or supported in the next election cycle.

  29. Dale says:

    From the FB page of the Delaware Family Policy Council:

    “Vote 9 to 12. We lost because two turncoats. Senators: Cloutier and Marshall who told us they did not support same sex marriage in the election flipped and voted for it.

    We must respond. Look for our email tonight. Make sure you are connected with us. Go to www[dot]delawarefamilies[dot]org to sign up for alerts.”

  30. John Kowalko III says:

    I hope that progressives in Delaware will support progressives. One vote will never make someone a progressive, no matter how important the vote. With so many other important issues necessary for Delaware, such as death penalty repeal, single-payer healthcare, and lobbyist reform, among others, progressives have enough to do before supporting moderates.

  31. Delaware Dem says:

    Indeed. Cloutier is not a progressive. At best she is a liberal Republican who votes good on some progressive issues (gay marriage, background checks, death penalty repeal) but not on all.

  32. AOINE says:

    John is right….however, when cloutier runs again she wil get a check, a nice check

    and in the bottom left corner in the memo section will,be a note

    ” thank you for your vote on marriage equality ”

    Depending on her opponent, they might get a check for the same amount or a little more or none at all

    How does that sound?

  33. Delaware Dem says:

    @Dale… how are they going to respond. It’s done. They won’t be able to defeat Marshall in his district with a fire breathing bigot. And while they may be able to defeat Cloutier in a primary (I doubt it given the fact that the kind of Republicans who live upstate in her district are not evil and bigoted), they will then lose in the general.

    It is time for the bigots to realize that they have lost. It’s over. For all time. If they cannot handle that truth, it is time for them to move out of Delaware for a state more to their liking. Like Mississippi. Or Arkansas.

  34. Dale says:

    @Delaware Dem:

    I guess we’ll have to wait for their email to find out. 🙂 My guess is that, since they are all loving Christians, their response will be to turn the other cheek, forgive Marshall and Cloutier, and start planning ways to combat poverty and violence in Delaware.

    Or not.

  35. AOINE says:

    I wish Delaware Dem…..
    But we still have Sussex- the land of fire- breathing bigots ( in some parts)

    Can we partition it along a east west divide? And the western part can be Arkansas East…

  36. Delaware Dem says:

    I have always proposed dividing New Castle County into two counties with the canal as the dividing point, with the lower county being called Appoquinimick, and then dividing Sussex into two counties, with the coastal area east of 113 as a separate county called Ocean.

  37. AOINE says:

    Ocean county, Delaware. Has a nice ring to it.
    Sounds like a place a retirement- seeking intellectual from DC or Philly might want to retire to…
    A place where people are treated equally, regardless of race, gender or sexual orientation. 🙂

  38. Delaware Dem says:

    Or we can call it Henlopen County.

  39. AOINE says:

    I like that better! If western Sussex doesn’t change soon I think that should be a viable option!

    The eastern part of Sussex has to take whatever is thrown at it by Sussex County council members that do things that effects the gridlock and infrastructure issues on the eastern side

    For all the belly-aching sussex does about lack of representation in the state ( today being a prime example)
    One would think they would be sensitive to that issue

    Wishful thinking I suppose. so lets call it Henlopen County- I bet we would have the votes!

  40. El Somnambulo says:

    Dale: I don’t pretend to have inside knowledge on how Sen. Hall-Long moved to ‘yes’. It’s fair to say that she did not have any hostility towards the marriage equality movement, and that it seemed like her initial reluctance was related to her family, especially her father.

    I frankly wouldn’t be surprised if that Church with the Christ is>= sign didn’t finalize her decision. I don’t find her to be someone who thinks that intolerance is cool, or even OK. And to have that message broadcast on a house of worship likely not only offended her, but certainly offended a lot of her constituents, who no doubt let her know about it.

    Cloutier’s not up until 2016, she’s in a socially progressive district, so this vote only helps her should she seek reelection.

  41. cassandra m says:

    When I got on my plane this afternoon there were 113 comments; 331 when I landed in Boston; now more than 500 in the middle of my event. This was killer blogging, gang. Informative, witty, passionate and I can’t imagine anyone doing this better. I am so glad this passed and proud of all of the DL crew today.

  42. AOINE says:

    And the right wing nut job machine has kicked in to high gear.
    Can we call it simply ” the bigot machine?”

    And here is the nut graph….

    “more leaning toward infamy as the General Assembly decided to play GOD”

    Really, play GOD. How, is the DE GA creating life or something?
    How is a legislative process playing GOD? How is passing a civil rights issue playing GOD How is equality playing GOD

    I just don’t get it I suppose, and in this instance , THAT is a good thing.

  43. jason330 says:

    “Adam do you take Steve to be your lawfully married husband?”

  44. jason330 says:

    I wasn’t surprised by Lopez’ vote, but I was surprised by that scumbag bullshit he pulled to justify it.

  45. pandora says:

    Yeah, Lopez was ridiculous. He can’t vote for this because… Truth! WTF does that even mean?

    Know what surprised me? How big of a nut Pastor Betters was! Did he really have a secret recording in his pocket? LOL! LOL!

  46. Bryce says:

    I had to miss the vote, but I have been really invested in it. Did anybody record the audio? Does anyone know if/where it is archived?

  47. cassandra m says:

    Hey is the Father Klein who spoke the new guy at St. Petersburg cathedral?

  48. cassandra m says:

    St. Peter’s, yikes.

  49. puck says:

    I have never seen this community so fired up about anything! Now I am racking my brains trying to figure out how to spin tax cuts for the rich as bad for LGBT rights 🙂

    There’s a lot more progressive ponies out there – let’s go get them and bring them into the corral too before this one gets lonely!

  50. X Stryker says:

    Cloutier gets a free pass for 2016 my book.

  51. X Stryker says:

    And Hall-Long gets a “with us when it counted” seal of approval.

    Lavelle become prime target #1 and won’t clear 45% in any statewide race.

  52. Delaware Dem says:

    Same goes for Lopez. He ended his statewide political future as the savior of Delaware Republican Party today. The next Republican Governor of Delaware will have to be a candidate that is for marriage equality, and Lavelle and Lopez and Hocker all guaranteed that they will never be Governor, or Lt. Governor, or a U.S. Senator, or a Congressman, or a State Treasurer, or a State Auditor, or Insurance Commissioner.

    The path is now clear for Charlie Copeland to come out for marriage equality. LOL.

  53. Chris Counihan says:

    @anon: thank you for the complement, I was pretty upset about not winning as well. Since Election Day I’ve been concerned that my loss might have hurt the cause of marriage equality. I am very glad and proud of my Senator that she stood up for equality. She is the last Rockefeller Republican left in Delaware.

  54. Delaware Dem says:

    Aw Chris, I suppose the talk surrounding Cloutier and her vote and our recent posts on her has to be bittersweet for you. You were a great candidate in both 2010 and 2012 and we are sorry you did not win, since your vote on this issue was never in doubt.

  55. AOINE says:

    So. Maybe Cloutier could run for the GOP slot for gubernatorial candidate?

    She is a lot more viable than Copeland right about now, or anybody else they may have……

    Hmmmmmmm, interesting thought

  56. Delaware Dem says:

    the problem, though, is the Republican Party. When I say that the next Republican Governor of Delaware will support marriage equality, I say that because no one who doesn’t support marriage equality will ever win a statewide race going forward. They will barely crack 40% of the vote. So for a Republican to win, he or she will have to be for marriage equality.

    BUT…

    For the foreseeable future (at least until 2016), the Republican Party’s base is violently against marriage equality, and no Republican candidate can win the primary or get the nod at the state convention without being against marriage equality. Maybe the victory today will speed the death of the rabid bigots at the heart of the state GOP, and I hope it does. But assuming it doesn’t, the GOP is caught in a horrible catch-22: it can only nominate anti-gay candidates, and it can only win with pro-equality candidates.

    So, here is your lineup of Governorships for the next 20 years:

    Jack Markell 2009–2017
    Matt Denn 2017–2025
    Bryan Townsend 2025–

  57. AOINE says:

    Think you are right about that Delaware Dem!

    Any R supporting these social issues will be crucified in the primaries, but if they do it the other way they will be creamed in the general, thus is the crux of their problem…..

    So, the question is, knowing that is the problem, why don’t they suck it up , waive the social issues that get them in trouble and WIN a race?

  58. AOINE says:

    It’s like an addict- they KNOW they are addicted, they KNOW the problem

    But they won’t give the substance up for the chance at a better life

    Can’t wrap my mind around that….how can losing be so addictive?

  59. puck says:

    I don’t think it will be as much of an issue going forward. What would they argue about? Candidates on both sides can just shrug and say it is settled law. But Repubs could still shoot themselves in the foot by advocating repeal, or ginning up some new issue like gay adoption or something.

    It’s time to move on to economic issues. How about those health care exchanges? the budgets?

    That is why I think it is foolish exuberance to vote for or donate to Republicans just based on this social liberal vote. We are going to need Democrats in place to vote on the economic issues coming up.

  60. Delaware Dem says:

    How can losing be so addictive? Easy. It allows these social conservatives to play a role they love so well: that of the victim. They love whining about how oppressed they are. And nothing proves their oppression more than defeat after defeat after defeat at the ballot box and in roll call votes in the General Assembly. And nothing brings in the dollars of retired old bigots more than hate and fear and victimhood.

  61. Delaware Dem says:

    Good point Puck. I think Cloutier and Ramone (the only 2 Republicans to vote for marriage equality) deserve recognition for their votes. But that is a long way from throwing ourselves at their feet and pledging our undying loyalty and votes to them.

  62. AOINE says:

    I am adding these two BIBLICAL QUOTES for the express enjoyment of the religious right –
    Special nod to Pastor Betters and Fr, Klien – (h/t to my brother….the Catholic priest…)

    Now that Marriage Equality has passed in DE – and has been signed into law, you all would be well advised to mind the following:

    1 Peter 2:13: “For the Lord’s sake accept the authority of every human institution, whether of the emperor as supreme, or of governors, as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right.”

    Paul wrote in Romans 13:1: “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities; for there is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resist authority resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.”

    We also don’t execute wives that are not virgins anymore , either……SORRY,

  63. Kevin says:

    Here’s hoping Minnesota will join Delaware by the end of the week

  64. John Young says:

    Great job, and a great day for Delaware.

    Please just remember not to give them a pass on destroying schools on the backs of this historic vote.

    They need to be all in on all the causes, not just a few. Some of the yes votes today are testing our kids into mental wards with reckless abandon and making policy that is actively re-segregating our state’s public school system.

  65. CR says:

    El Som’s interpretation of Hall-Long’s reversal over the course of several months is basically correct. Unlike some legislators might have handled it, the ratcheting up of pressure from the opposition actually acted to make her more likely to switch to yes. The sign was basically the last straw in a series of boneheaded moves by the opposition to attempt to intimidate/pressure/target her. There were other egregious incidents less publicized.

    And of course the nearly 2,000 voicemails (plus however many letters) from equality supporters to her. And the fact that the district was more supportive of the issue than the state as a whole.

  66. ecia says:

    Calling for Immediate Repeal of SB75.

  67. ecia says:

    Generally, I support Democrats; however, I strongly oppose Democrats position on ‘men marrying men and women marrying women. Therefore, I working with others to REPEAL SB.

  68. Delaware Dem says:

    No. You will never repeal this. You and your fellow bigots have lost. Either get over it or get out.

  69. Delaware Dem says:

    And now you are spamming the thread with bigoted commentary, so Ecia is moderated.

  70. cassandra m says:

    Delaware has 99 problems, but who grown adults marry ain’t one. Figuring out how to get the local bigots to focus on something other than their bigotry might be one, though.

  71. Venus says:

    For all the anti-gay noise Sussex seems to make, seems kinda hypocritical to enjoy the gays’ money. How about some of you newly betrothed throw some love our way, and marry at Lums Pond? And the Hotel duPont is down on bookings.