SB30, the bill to allow civil unions in Delaware just passed 13-6-2. The main opponent of the bill was Senator Venables, who tried to attach 2 amendments. One amendment was to allow family members or other non-romantic relationships have civil unions and the other was to put civil unions up on a state referenda. Both failed.
The bill must now be passed by the House.
The bill survived two hostile amendment efforts by Sen. Robert Venables, D-Laurel, and a motion to table it by Sen. Joe Booth, R-Georgetown, who wanted more time to draft other amendments.
Venables’ first amendment, rejected 12-2, with five not voting and two absent, would have expanded the bill to include opposite-sex couples and other family members who live together. The second, rejected 12-6, with one not voting and two absent, would have required endorsement in a statewide referendum before the law could take effect.
“I’m not against homosexuality,” Venables said. “I don’t understand it, but I’m certainly not a bigot. I’m not a hater.”
Venables and Ennis were the two Democrats voting against the bill. Bonini, Lawson, Simpson and Booth.