We did it!!! Thanks to a massive advocacy campaign by most of the major civil rights organizations in Delaware, legislation known as SB 53 was passed by both of the states legislative bodies. SB 53 was written to amend the existing Delaware hate crimes statute to include "sexual orientation." The new law was passed by the Senate at 16 yes, 4 no (Sharp, Venables, Vaughn, Haug), and 1 absent (McBride). The vote was taken during the last week of June as the legislative year drew to a close. The bill was then moved to the House the next evening where it passed by a vote of 38 yes, 2 absent, 1 not voting (Smith).
SB 53 will be signed into law by Governor Tom Carper at 10:30 a.m., July 13, in front of the Rehoboth Beach municipal building. With the signing, Delaware becomes the 20th state to include "sexual orientation" in their hate crimes statute. There are 19 other states with hate crimes statutes, but they do not include sexual orientation. Delaware actually put the states with this inclusion into the majority by being the 20th state.
Governor Carper was thanked personally by the states gay and lesbian leaders after the Senate vote. He seemed pleased with the results and inquired about the remarks of the opposition. His staff was extremely helpful to us throughout this process. Indications were that the Governor was using this bill as a barometer for other, future legislation that would impact the lesbian/ gay/bisexual/transgendered community. We could not have asked for a better showing.
Thanks goes out to each and every person who made calls and contacts, shared ideas, wrote letters, and came out in response to the action alert...and stayed out! We did this by working together. Every voice was important.
Handwritten notes of thanks are encouraged to your Senators and Representatives for their favorable votes. In particular, Senators Henry, Bonini, McDowell and Still, and Representatives Oberle, DiPinto, Williams and Scott were very vocal in session before the roll call for the vote about how this was the "just and correct" thing to do. They took a stand on this issue for us. Special thanks also goes to Senator Henry and Representative Oberle for their role in this victory. Letters to the Editor following news articles are also helpful if you have any energy left!
Thanks again for your support, energy and courage in helping us work for equal protection and civil rights.
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7/11/97 Issue. Copyright 1997 by CAMP Rehoboth, Inc. All rights reserved.