All eyes in the trans community will be turned towards Dover, DE and the First State today as the 41 members of the Delaware House are poised to debate and vote on SB 97.The bill sponsored by African-American state Sen. Margaret Rose Henry (D-Wilmington) passed the Delaware Senate June 6 on an 11-7 vote and favorably out of the House Administration Committee last Tuesday on a 4-1 vote.
The Gender Identity Nondiscrimination Bill would add gender identity to the existing list of protected nondiscrimination categories, including race, age, religion and sexual orientation. It also allows for enhanced penalties under Delaware's hate crimes law for targeting someone based on his or her gender identity.
The Democrats have a 27-14 edge in the Delaware House, and the bill also has the support of Atty General Beau Biden (D) and Gov. Jack Markell (D), who has indicated he would sign SB 97 if it passes.
If the bill passes, Delaware would become the 17th state to pass a statewide trans rights law.
21 votes is the magic number were looking for today, and I'm crossing my fingers and saying my prayers along with trans Delawareans in hopes that there will be more good news to celebrate trans human rights wise before the end of the day.
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