Voters in Delaware overwhelmingly
approve of civil unions, which offer gay and lesbian couples many of
the benefits and responsibilities of marriage.
The gay rights group Equality Delaware
announced last month that it was helping lawmakers draft legislation
to legalize civil unions in the state. The measure is expected to be
introduced sometime this month.
According to a poll released Wednesday
by Lake Research Partners, sixty-two percent of likely voters favor
civil unions, compared to 31 percent who oppose the proposed law.
Ellen Goodman, President of Equality
Delaware, cheered the news.
“There's a lot of folks out there on
both sides of the issue, talking, but it's important to stop and look
at what the numbers really are in terms of support,” Goodman told
WDEL 1150AM.
“We are very optimistic that the
legislation that we drafted will be passed this session,” she
added.
Social conservatives in the state have
begun a campaign to defeat the measure before it's even been
introduced. In an “Urgent call to action,” the
Delaware Family Policy Council urged members to oppose the proposal.
If Delaware approves civil unions, the
state would join Illinois, Hawaii and New Jersey in offering the
union. Colorado
lawmakers are also debating the issue.