SB 27 made it through committee on a 3-2 vote, and there’s good news and bad news. Apparently they’ve amended the language of SB 27 so that it doesn’t apply to Civil Unions. The good news is that this proves that a bill legalizing Civil Unions could pass through even Venables’ own committe, as long as we put in enough calls of support. The bad news is that this will make SB 27 easier to pass, and Bunting voted for it in committee. But that doesn’t mean it WILL pass – we need just 8 Senators to vote against this bill, because a constitutional amendment needs a 2/3rds majority to pass. Senators Sorenson and Katz voted against the bill in committee, and we can definitely count on Peterson, Sokola, and Blevins. Get ready to work the phones – Wilmington Senators Margaret Rose Henry, Harris McDowell, and Robert Marshall should be top targets, plus two socially progressive Republicans endorsed by the Delaware Liberty Fund, Cloutier and Connor. I’d also go for McBride (who wants to change the whole constitutional amendment process), Bushweller (endorsed by the Delaware Liberty Fund), and Bethany Hall-Long (also endorsed by the Delaware Liberty Fund). Call Senators Bunting and Ennis and tell them you’re disappointed by their votes and would like them to reconsider. And if you have the time, thank Katz and Sorenson for their support, and leave encouraging messages for Peterson, Sokola, and Blevin – you can bet the bigots are spewing hate at them all day.
The Senate switchboard is (302) 744-4286 – start calling around 9:00 AM and ask them to transfer you to the Senator of your choice. Tell them the bill is an endorsement of some religions over others (like Unitarian Universalism). Tell them we can’t afford to lose prospective entrepeneurs to New Jersey and Maryland. Tell them that infidelity threatens marriages, not homosexuality. Ask them what would have happened if they had passed a constitutional amendment banning interracial marriage in 1950. Tell them gay marriage is already illegal in Delaware, and this constitutional amendment is an attack on the progressive views of future generations.
Who did you call? What did you say? This bill hits the Senate floor today – work those phones!