Delaware House to Vote on Same-Sex Marriage Bill

The Delaware House of Representatives is expected to vote Tuesday, April 23 on a bill that would grant same-sex couples the right to marry in the state.

State Rep. Melanie George Smith introduced the proposal, House Bill 75, on April 11, and is hopeful it will pass.

"I'm confident that we have a majority of Delaware representatives -- so over 21 out of the 41 -- that will do the right thing and vote to support equality in Delaware," she told theWashington Blade.

State Rep. Mike Ramone, the only Republican co-sponsor of Delaware's same-sex marriage bill, shares Representative Smith's optimism and expressed concern over other members of his political party apposing marriage equality.

"I wish we had a Republican Party that focused more on how we can make the world better through fiscal responsibility," he said in an interview with the Washington Blade on April 17. "And if there are social environments that aren't hurting anyone else by their actual ability to participate in them on an equal basis, I don't know that we should be involved in that."

Tuesday's vote is scheduled to happen less than one week after the House Administrative Committee voted 4-1 to send House Bill 75 to the full chamber.