January 1, 2012

First Civil Union in Delaware, sermon was done by Senator Chris Coons

http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20120101/NEWS/120101002/First-civil-union-takes-place-Delaware?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Home

First civil union takes place in Delaware

Two women became the first couple in Delaware joined in a same-sex civil union ceremony Sunday during a historic and emotional service at their Wilmington church.

Fellow Delaware attorneys, as well as judges, legislators, friends and family members witnessed the tearful exchange of vows between Lisa B. Goodman and Drewry N. Fennell at Trinity Episcopal Church on North Adams Street.

A friend of the couple, U.S. Sen. Chris Coons, delivered the sermon. During the liturgy, Lt. Gov. Matthew Denn and Superior Court Judge Jan R. Jurden each read from the Bible. Both know the couple from their days at the law firm Young, Conaway, Stargatt & Taylor.

At 10 a.m. Sunday, Delaware’s law adopting same-sex civil unions took effect. After years of debate and hours of testimony in Dover, the General Assembly adopted the measure in April 2011. Gov. Jack Markell signed the bill in May.

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Congratulations to this couple and all couples that now can legally wed. Yes, it's only a Civil Union - unfortunately we have DOMA in our constitution. But the law was well written to ensure same-sex couples have all the same rights as heteros. But we'll work on the DE DOMA amendment next!

Edit note: The DOMA would have taken way more time and effort to overturn and gay-rights advocates in the state felt it was best to at least get civil unions passed now while we can and then continue to work to overturn DOMA out of our state constitution. BTW you can thank Christine O'Donnell for this law being passed. She was such poison on the GOP 2010 ticket here in Delaware that we were able to pick up enough state seats to have the numbers to pass this law!