Moving Toward Equality—from Newark, Delaware to North Dakota, and beyond
February 24, 2009
Chris Edelson, HRC's state legislative director, sent us this important update today: If you look at our maps tracking progress toward equality at the state level, you might get the impression that, for the most part, New England and the west coast are leading the charge. Of course, that is not always the case, and this year, state legislatures in other regions of the country are showing us that equality is starting to move beyond traditional boundaries. A few recent examples:
- Wyoming: On February 6, the state House of Representatives voted 35-25 to defeat a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would have defined marriage between a man and a woman as the only legal union recognized in Wyoming.
- North Dakota: Last week, the state Senate voted 27-19 in favor of anti-discrimination legislation that would apply to sexual orientation and gender identity
- Utah: Although the legislature did not advance pro-equality legislation in Equality Utah’s Common Ground Initiative, Gov. Jon Huntsman announced his support for civil unions and other pro-equality legislation.
- Indiana: The state Senate Republican caucus voted not to consider a resolution seeking to amend the state constitution to define marriage as between a man and a woman and also threatening to prohibit other forms of relationship recognition for gay and lesbian couples.
Other states and localities are also taking hopeful steps toward equality. One place is Newark, Delaware, where City Councilman Ezra Temko, who recently publicly came out as bisexual, has sponsored proposals that would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, provide benefits for the partners of city workers, and establish Delaware’s first domestic partner registry. Councilman Temko said this today:
I am looking forward to working with the community and council to continue working towards making sure Newark is an inclusive city for everyone. HRC has been terrific in supporting our equal rights work . I look forward to continuing to work with the HRC and hope that HRC members in Newark will lend their support to these measures.
HRC has been proud to work with Councilmember Temko as he works to advance equality. We’re also hoping that developments in Newark are a hint of things to come in the state of Delaware, where the legislature may take up anti-discrimination legislation, as well as bills that would provide domestic partner benefits for state employees and hospital visitation rights for gay and lesbian couples.
