Rick Moore of Milton has a gold band wrapped around the ring finger of his left hand. It matches the ring Nick Gurnas wears. To Moore and Gurnas, who were married in Washington, D.C., last April, the gold bands signify their 2010 vow of marriage and the lifetime commitment they made to each other eight years ago. Under the Delaware Code, the bands mean nothing — unless they say it does. A gay or lesbian Delaware couple that claims to be married can be hit with a $100 fine or put in jail for 30 days.

This week, Delaware lawmakers will consider legislation that would recognize “solemnized” same-sex relationships as legal civil unions, starting Jan. 1, and grant them the same benefits and responsibilities of married couples. State Sen. David P. Sokola, D-Newark North, introduced the state’s first such bill Tuesday, with more than two dozen other lawmakers signed on as co-sponsors. The bill — S.B. 30 — is scheduled for its first hearing at 2 p.m. Wednesday before the Senate Administrative Services Committee.

“It would change our lives big time,” said Moore, owner of Rick’s Fitness. “We’d have the tax advantages, the right to inherit, power of attorney over everything that happens. I want to make sure Nick is taken care of, and he wants to make sure I’m taken care of.”

Full Story from The Courier Post

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