I like Senator Chris Coons (D. DE). He's a down to earth guy. I don't write about him a lot because it's Delaware and he's safe for re-election, unless someone like Mike Castle (R) decides to give it another try but that's highly unlikely to happen. But I wanted to write about him today because gay marriage is on the verge of becoming legal in Delaware and Coons came out in support of the effort:
http://www.hrc.org/...
This week’s town halls provided an opportunity for a real community discussion about what it will take for us to secure marriage for same-sex couples this year. When Delaware passed civil unions in 2011, same-sex couples gained basic state-level protections. Now that we’ve seen such incredible progress in both other states and at the federal level, it’s time for Delaware to be part of that progress.
At our Wilmington town hall, we were joined by U.S. Senator Chris Coons. Senator Coons said, “I think it’s important that we allow couples to marry and that we allow them to enjoy — both in state and federal law — the same protections regardless of the orientation of the couples. So I think this is an important opportunity for Delaware to join other states around the country that have enacted full marriage equality." - Human Rights Campaign, 2/4/13
Coons is also a co-sponsor of repealing DOMA:
Coons recently made his support for repealing DOMA public again:
“It is my hope that at the federal level we will move back to a place where states get to determine the definition of marriage. And, I hope to be representing a state where that definition embraces full marriage equality.” - WDDE 91.1 FM, Delaware's NPR, 1/31/13
It's good to hear Coons come out for marriage equality, especially since Delaware is literally this close to making marriage equality a reality:
http://www.marriageequality.org/...
On 6 August 2012, Governor Jack Markell, who enacted the civil union law in 2011, announced his 2013 effort to upgrade to full marriage, which he calls “inevitable.” On 27 September 2012, Pete Schwartzkopf (D-Rehoboth), who is expected to be DE’s 2013 Speaker of the House, says a marriage equality bill is likely to come before the legislators in 2013, and he’ll vote for it. The likely Senate leaders also are all solid, pro-equality legislators. DE does not allow a ballot initiative, referendum, or recall, so voters can’t pass or repeal laws via ballot. - Marriage Equality USA
Lisa Goodwman, President of the activist group, Equality Delaware, is optimistic about getting marriage equality passed in Delaware this year but emphasized that it will take a strong grassroots effort to make marriage equality a reality:
Goodman said Equality Delaware is confident it can get a marriage-equality bill passed in Delaware. “We think our chances are really good,” she said.
But, Goodman said, before you drink the wine, you have to stomp the grapes. “Your help is critical,” she said.
“No. 1, get connected,” she said. Follow Equality Delaware on Facebook and Twitter, Goodman said; social media keeps supporters up-to-date on pending legislation and opportunities to volunteer and provide financial support. “When the time is right, we’re going to need our community,” she said.
“Talk to your friends, your allies, your houses of worship,” Goodman said. “The district-by-district effort is really important.” - Cape Gazette, 2/5/13
And one particular couple couldn't be happier:
http://www.delawareonline.com/...
Norman Spector and George Everett, who live just south of Smyrna, said they wouldn’t have missed a Wednesday night gathering that kicked off a campaign to legalize same-sex marriage in Delaware.
“This isn’t about sexual orientation,” Spector said. “It’s about equality.”
He and Everett were the first couple united by the New Castle County Clerk of the Peace after Delaware legalized civil unions in 2011. -
You can get involved with Equality Delaware here:
http://www.equalitydelaware.org/
Coons also said something else that I really liked hearing:
http://www.npr.org/...
"It has to be in the agenda of this Congress to reconsider the scope of action of drones and use of deadly force by the United States around the world because the original authorization of use of force, I think, is being strained to its limits," Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., said in a recent interview. - NPR, 2/5/13
You can also donate to Senator Coons re-election campaign here:
https://secure.actblue.com/...