May, 08 2013, 12:00am EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Angela Dallara
Communications Associate, Freedom to Marry
angela@freedomtomarry.org
646-430-3925
Delaware Becomes 11th State to Approve the Freedom to Marry
DOVER
Today, the Delaware state Senate approved freedom to marry legislation, following House passage two weeks ago and putting Delaware on track to be the eleventh state to end the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage. Governor Jack Markell, a champion of the legislation, is expected to sign the bill into law immediately. The law is expected to go into effect on July 1.
Marc Solomon, national campaign director of Freedom to Marry, released the following statement:
"Today's historic vote makes Delaware the eleventh state across the U.S. where loving and committed couples can share in the joy and protections that marriage brings. As happy couples and their loved ones celebrate and prepare for the first weddings in Delaware - following the win in Rhode Island just a few days ago - this milestone sends yet another message to the Supreme Court that it's time for marriage for all Americans. Freedom to Marry is proud of its work with Equality Delaware to secure this victory, and we look forward to surging forward and continuing the momentum in Illinois and Minnesota later this month."
Freedom to Marry served as a lead partner on the Delaware campaign and helped pave the way for a victory by providing strategic guidance and counsel on all aspects of the legislative campaign, in addition to managing the campaign's digital strategy. While leading Delaware's online campaign, Freedom to Marry helped identify over 6,000 new online supporters and generated more than 5,500 emails to legislators. In addition, Freedom to Marry was the lead investor in the campaign, contributing nearly $200,000 to the effort.
Freedom to Marry is the gay and non-gay partnership working to win marriage equality nationwide. Headed by Evan Wolfson, one of America's leading civil rights advocates and lawyers, Freedom to Marry brings new resources and a renewed context of urgency and opportunity to this social justice movement.
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The House voted 219-199 for Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale Act (FANFSA), which won support from 96 Democrats and 123 Republicans, including the lead sponsor, Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio). Named for the constitutional amendment that protects against unreasonable searches and seizures, H.R. 4639 would close what campaigners call the data broker loophole.
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Wednesday's vote followed the House sending the Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act to the Senate. H.R. 7888 would reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which allows for warrantless spying on noncitizens abroad but also sweeps up Americans' data.
The House notably included an amendment forcing a wide range of individuals and businesses to cooperate with government spying operations but rejected an amendment that would have added a warrant requirement to the bill, which the Senate could vote on as soon as Thursday.
Noting those decisions on the FISA reauthorization legislation, Ruddock stressed that "today's vote is a victory but follows a recent loss and ongoing threat as that Section 702 bill moves to the Senate this week too."
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