NEWS RELEASE

SEN. JOHN STILL: CONSTITUTIONAL BAN ON GAY MARRIAGE

Posted: March 31, 2004

Dover – State Senate Minority Leader John C. Still, a Dover Republican, today introduced legislation to prohibit recognition of same sex marriages or similar legal relationships, whether originally created in Delaware or elsewhere. The measure clarifies and codifies the current Delaware Defense of Marriage Act, passed in 1996. 

“This constitutional amendment will not recognize nor will it be valid in Delaware for two persons of the same sex to be united in a civil union, domestic partnership, or other similar same-sex legal relationships," Still said.

Legislators at a recent constitutional convention in Massachusetts approved a constitutional amendment this past Monday that would ban gay marriages while legalizing civil unions. “The constitutional amendment I am introducing would neither sanction nor recognize civil unions or domestic partnerships. In my opinion, they are essentially counterfeit marriages” Still said.  

For this amendment to take effect it must pass both the Delaware House and Senate by two-thirds majorities in consecutive General Assemblies.

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