A Delaware House panel on Wednesday
approved a bill which seeks to legalize gay marriage in the First
State.
The House Administration Committee
approved the measure with a 4-1 vote and sent it to the full House
for further consideration after holding a 90-minute hearing in which
speakers were each given 2 minutes to testify.
Among those testifying was Richard
Smith, president of the Delaware chapter of the NAACP.
“We believe marriage equality is a
civil right,” Smith told lawmakers.
Jared and Jordan spoke on behalf of
their 2-mom family.
“No child should have to fight for
their hardworking, dedicated parents to have the same rights as other
parents,” Jordan said.
Opponents said they oppose the measure
because it would force religious groups to marry gay couples.
House Democrats countered the claim in
a tweet: “HB75 states no clergy of any denomination required to
perform any marriage, including same-sex, that doesn't conform
w/religious beliefs.”
The full House is expected to debate
the issue on Thursday.
(Related: Delaware's
Jack Markell pledges to sign gay marriage legislation.)