Lawmakers are planning on updating protections for the LGBTQ community to make the law more inclusive.
Democratic lawmakers and advocates consider Delaware s non-discrimination laws, which include definitions of sexual orientation and gender identity, to be outdated and not inclusive of certain LGBTQ identities.
House Bill 155 by Rep. Kendra Johnson, D-Bear, cleared the House on Thursday and awaits a vote in the Senate. It would amend the law, written in 2009, which says that sexual orientation exclusively means heterosexuality, homosexuality, or bisexuality.
The bill replaces the phrase exclusively means with includes in order to include other sexualities.
The bill also strikes out the section of state law that says gender identity is demonstrated by consistent and uniform assertion of the identity or evidence that it is sincerely held as part of a person’s core identity unless it s asserted for any improper purpose.
Delaware House to hold hybrid session late this month - Delaware Business Now delawarebusinessnow.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from delawarebusinessnow.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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Delaware State Capitol Building in Dover. (Paul Brady/Bigstock)
For the first time since the start of the pandemic, members of the Delaware House will meet in person at Legislative Hall in Dover for one day only later this month.
“We are thankfully in a position where lawmakers and staff have been able to get vaccinated, which greatly reduces the risk to them and their families, and we can begin the process of resuming in-person session,” House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf said.
House members will meet in Dover on April 29 to vote on legislation. No decision has been made about further in-person sessions, Schwartzkopf said. Lawmakers have a scheduled one-week break to start the month of May.
Gun rights advocates sue lawmakers over virtual meetings Follow Us
Question of the Day By RANDALL CHASE - Associated Press - Friday, April 9, 2021
DOVER, Del. (AP) - Gun rights advocates have filed a federal lawsuit challenging continued virtual meetings of the Delaware General Assembly after Democrats rammed two controversial gun-control bills through the state Senate.
The lawsuit was filed Friday against Democrat and Republican leaders of the House and Senate. It comes amid partisan bickering over the Democrat-controlled legislature continuing to meet online rather than in person. The decision by Senate Democrats to fast-track passage of the gun control bills last week served only to fan the flames.
Gun rights advocates sue lawmakers over virtual meetings apnews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from apnews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.