STATUS: Marriage (Takes Effect July 1) WINNING MARRIAGE: On May
7, 2013, Delaware became the twelfth jurisdiction in the United
States to end the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage.
Governor Jack Markell signed the marriage bill into law just
minutes after the bill was approved by the Senate. Earlier in
2013, the bill was approved in the House. Same-sex couples can
begin marrying in Delaware on July 1, 2013. HISTORY: On April
11, 2013, marriage bills were introduced in the Delaware House
of Representatives and the Delaware Senate. On April 17, the
House Administration Committee voted to advance the bill to the
full House floor, and on April 23, the Delaware House approved
the marriage bill. On May 7, 2013, the DE Senate took up the
marriage bill and voted 12-9 to end the exclusion of same-sex
couples from marriage. Previously, Delaware approved a bill to
allow same-sex couples to join together in civil union. That law
was approved on May 11, 2011 by Gov. Jack Markell after it was
approved by the stat