Delaware's Congressional Delegation Supports Marriage

Delaware's only member of the U.S. House of Representatives and the state's junior U.S. senator have both announced their support for marriage equality this week, making Delaware's entire congressional delegation supportive of the freedom to marry.

Democratic Delaware senator Tom Carper made his support public on Facebook Tuesday morning, comparing support for marriage equality to adherence to the Golden Rule.

"As our society has changed and evolved, so too has the public's opinion on gay marriage -- and so has mine," he said. "I pray every day for God to grant me the wisdom to do what is right. Through my prayers and conversations with my family and countless friends and Delawareans, I've been reminded of the power of one of my core values: the Golden Rule. It calls on us to treat others as we want to be treated. That means, to me, that all Americans ultimately should be free to marry the people they love and intend to share their lives with, regardless of their sexual orientation, and that's why today, after a great deal of soul searching, I'm endorsing marriage equality."

Rep. John Carney, also a Democrat, announced his support for marriage equality on his website Monday, two years after he endorsed civil unions as lieutenant governor. He said his role as an elected official and his Catholic faith have inspired him to instill a balance between honoring the religious sacrament of marriage while allowing gay and lesbian couples the right to wed.

"For over a generation, we as a society have honored the truth that separate is not equal," he said. "On the surface, this may just sound like a debate about words. But marriage is also symbolic -- it gives honor to a lifelong partnership in a way that civil unions do not. This June, I will be married 20 years. I know that marriage is about commitment, love, and mutual respect. All Delawareans should have the privilege of participating in this institution."

Carney and Carper join Sen. Chris Coons, who said in February that he supported Delaware's marriage equality bill, which is currently before the state legislature.