Delaware is considering amending its state constitution to codify same-sex marriage. bill, SB 100will be asked by the committee on Wednesday.
The SB 100 was introduced in April 2025 by Senator Russ Huxtable of Delaware’s 6th District, and is the first amendment to the Delaware Constitution. The law “establishes the right to marry as a fundamental right, and establishes that Delaware and its political subdivisions will recognize marriage and issue marriage licenses to couples regardless of gender.”
“[SB 100] It really came from the community I represent, so that addressed the concerns my constituents had and the inspiration behind it,” Huxtable told the Washington Blade.
Camp Rehoboth, a LGBTQ community center and advocacy organization based in Rehoboth Beach, has written a letter to members of the Senate Executive Committee supporting SB 100.
“This aggressive approach is praised as it ensures that same-sex couples in Delaware retain their rights under Delaware law, even if federal protections are weakened,” the letter wrote. “We believe it is important to do so now for several reasons, especially in the context of evolving legal landscapes and civil rights erosion that has long been recognized in federal law.”
Camp Rehobos Committee Chairman Leslie Redgall will testify at a hearing on Wednesday on behalf of Camp Rehobos. She wants to convey how personal the bill is for the organization.
Redgar said Camp Rehobos has about 35 years of history on behalf of LGBTQ people in Delaware. Past board president Chris Beagle and his husband were among the first couples to marry in Sussex County after same-sex marriage was legalized in the state in 2013, and Camp Rehobos hosted the ceremony.
This letter is a landmark 2015 Supreme Court lawsuit that guarantees the right to marry same-sex couples. He cited concerns about the possibility that Hodges could overthrow in the future.
“I really feel this is a proactive and protective measure that guarantees long-term security for LGBTQ+ couples,” says Ledogar. “We have that [protection] Well, it’s just that temporary, just that fleeting, everything we’ve worked and built can collapse due to pen strokes, not our own initiative. ”
The letter details the positive impact the bill has on the LGBTQ community in Delaware, including affirming equality and human dignity, blocking legal backslides, hampering legal certainty and reflecting public support.
“[SB 100] “It will align the law with the values of the majority of Delawaleans and ensure that the legal framework reflects modern social norms and standards,” Redegal said.
Public Religion Research Institute in 2024 Found 61% of Delawaline support allowing same-sex couples to get married.
There are also critics of the bill. Quote Religious concerns state that SB 100 explicitly protects the denial of clergy, but “the right to marry regardless of gender does not infringe on religious freedom, as religious organizations and clergy members have the right to refuse to make marriage majestic.”
The bill requires two-thirds of the votes of elected members to each family of the General Assembly to be passed. If passed, the next general meeting after the next general election must also pass it. Delaware is the only state in the country that can amend the state constitution without the public’s vote. Members can register to effectively watch the hearing here.
Other states, such as California, Colorado and Hawaii, have introduced and passed similar legislation to protect the rights of all people of all genders to marry under state law.
Huxtable said it hopes Delaware can do the same to other states and send a message to other states that “they don’t need to feel threatened by extremists.”
“I think it shows that Delaware’s General Assembly in particular is advocating for good policies that celebrate individuals.
Source: Washington Blade: LGBTQ News, Politics, LGBTQ Rights, Gay News – www.washingtonblade.com
