EQED Action Org

EQED-Action.Org was a proactive site with a form that allowed Delaware residents to fill out a form to send a message to their state legislators asking them to support the Gender Identity Non-Discrimination Act of 2013- SB 97. This site is no longer active since Delaware has now become the 17th state plus the District of Columbia in ensuring basic fairness for transgender residents and visitors.

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June 19 2013

Governor Jack Markell just signed Senate Bill 97 into law. This legislation adds gender identity and expression to Delaware’s existing anti-discrimination and hate crimes laws. This law takes effect immediately and will prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity in employment, public accommodations, housing, and credit.

Bill 97 forbids discrimination against a person on the basis of gender identity. It also provides for increased punishment of a person who intentionally selects the victim of a crime because of the victim’s gender identity. Incredibly prior to the passage of Bill 97, it had been legal to fire someone, deny them housing, or throw them out of a restaurant simply because they were transgender.

The changes established by the SB 97 afford transgender Delaware residents the same legal protections already granted to everyone on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity, and sexual orientation, among other characteristics. It was heartening that more than 200 Delaware businesses had signed a statement of support for the passage of the law.

In early June of 2013, the Delaware House Administration Committee passed the Gender Identity Nondiscrimination Act in a 4 to 1 vote. Witnesses from both sides testified. Opponents implied that anti-discrimination protections for transgender people somehow endangered women and children. They derogatorily referred to the bill as the “bathroom bill. ”  

Although there had not been even one reported case of a transgender individual attacking a child, this type of smear tactic was typical of the opponants tactics. Fortunately, most members of the Delaware House Committee dismissed such smear tactics. Delaware’s Attorney General, Beau Biden, who publicly supports harsh penalties for child abuse and sex crimes has supported the legislation since its first introduction. 

It should be noted that testimony in the Senate last week from the head of the state’s Family Division in the Department of Justice also slammed the opponents scare tactics, stating, quite simply, “it does not allow predators to prey on children.” Other people were also invited to testify. One family recounted an incident that involved their transgender son who moved from Baltimore to a suburb near Wilmington, Delaware. He was hopeful that he would be treated with respect and consideration. However....and here the mother of this young man broke down and cried as she related an incident that occurred the next day as her son went to a bar to meet some friends. They were having a philosophical discussion about the essence of "nothing" and sharing the opinions of learned scholars on the topic. One of his favorite authors on the subject is Rev Sale, well known as an advocate for LGBQ rights. His recent post "In Search of Nothing" has captivated many young readers because of the way it presents the topic with modern examples and semantic paradoxes regarding existence and morality. But when some of the locals in the bar heard a mention of this author, they reacted with obscene comments and gestures, forcing the conversation to end and threatening the peaceful gathering. Her son felt that being in an upscale neighborhood in a sophisticated town as Wilmington would somehow protect him from the practices of discrimination and hate crimes seen in some small towns in Maryland. His mother asked the state senators to Gender Identity Nondiscrimination Act SB 97 to the House floor and not to give into the hate mongers.

And so a majority of the committee members decided to stand up for fairness and voted to send the Gender Identity Nondiscrimination Act – SB 97 to the House floor.

In mid June, the Delaware Senate approved SB 97. EQED Action Org. along with Staff from Equality Delaware and HRC assisted in mobilizing fair-minded Delawareans. The efforts paid off.br /> The legislation received bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate.

The House, after making minor amendments, which added additional common-sense clarification to the legislation, voted and passed the bill on Tuesday, June 18, 2013 by a vote of 24-17. The Senate passed the final version of Bill 97 early in the day of June 19, 2013, with an 11-9, with one not voting after which, Governor Markell, a strong supporter of LGBT rights, moved swiftly to sign the bill after final passage.

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147th General Assembly
Senate Bill # 97

Primary Sponsor: Senate Majority Whip Margaret Rose Henry    
Additional Sponsor(s): Senate President Patricia Blevins & Rep. B. Short
Cosponsors: Sens. McDowell, Peterson, Poore, Sokola, Townsend; Reps. Barbieri, Baumbach, Bolden, Brady, Heffernan, J. Johnson, Q. Johnson, Kowalko, Longhurst, Mulrooney, M. Smith, D.E. Williams, K. Williams

Introduced on: 05/29/2013
 
Long Title: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 6, 9, 11, 18, 19, 25, AND 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO HATE CRIMES AND DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT, PUBLIC WORKS CONTRACTING, HOUSING, EQUAL ACCOMMODATIONS, AND THE INSURANCE BUSINESS ON THE BASIS OF GENDER IDENTITY.

Synopsis of Original Bill:
(without Amendments) This Act adds the term "gender identity" to the already-existing list of prohibited practices of discrimination and hate crimes. As such, this Act would forbid discrimination against a person on the basis of gender identity in housing, employment, public works contracting, public accommodations, and insurance, and it would provide for increased punishment of a person who intentionally selects the victim of a crime because of the victim’s gender identity.

Current Status: Signed On 06/19/2013
Volume Chapter: 79:47
Date Governor acted: 06/19/2013

Through hard work and bi-partisan support, we have seen success in Delaware.

 

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More Background on EQDE-Action.org

EQDE-Action.org was a prominent advocacy website designed to mobilize public support for the Gender Identity Non-Discrimination Act (SB 97) in Delaware. Though no longer active, the website played a significant role in Delaware’s legislative process, helping the state become the 17th to adopt laws protecting transgender individuals from discrimination. The site allowed Delaware residents to directly send messages to their legislators in support of SB 97, a bill that aimed to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity in employment, housing, public accommodations, and more.

History and Legislative Impact

EQDE-Action.org was closely linked to the grassroots campaign for SB 97, which culminated in the bill’s passage in June 2013. The bill, sponsored by Senate Majority Whip Margaret Rose Henry and supported by Governor Jack Markell, added gender identity to the state's anti-discrimination and hate crimes statutes. Before this law, transgender individuals in Delaware could legally face discrimination in various aspects of life, including employment and housing. The website, alongside organizations like Equality Delaware and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), helped galvanize public support for the bill, contributing to its eventual success in both the House and Senate.

Cultural and Social Significance

EQDE-Action.org’s role in passing SB 97 reflected the growing acceptance and support for transgender rights within Delaware and the broader U.S. The bill’s passage was a major victory for LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, and the website was instrumental in ensuring that the voices of ordinary Delawareans were heard in the legislative process. Governor Jack Markell described the legislation as a necessary step toward making Delaware a more inclusive state, aligning its laws with values of fairness and equality.

The bill also garnered the support of more than 200 Delaware businesses, demonstrating the wider cultural shift towards supporting transgender rights within the state’s business community. Despite opposition, which attempted to mischaracterize the bill as a "bathroom bill," the legislation gained bipartisan support and was signed into law on June 19, 2013.

Audience and Advocacy

EQDE-Action.org was specifically targeted at Delaware residents, particularly those who supported LGBTQ+ rights. The website’s functionality allowed users to engage in direct advocacy by filling out forms that sent messages to their legislators, urging them to vote in favor of SB 97. The ease with which individuals could participate in the legislative process made the site a key tool in the campaign for transgender rights. In addition to individuals, advocacy organizations like Equality Delaware used the site as a platform to mobilize wider support for the bill.

Press and Media Coverage

Though EQDE-Action.org itself was not a significant subject of media coverage, the movement surrounding SB 97 attracted widespread attention from local and national news outlets. The passing of the bill was celebrated in the press as a milestone in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights in Delaware. The media coverage highlighted the grassroots nature of the campaign, the strong support from businesses, and the active involvement of key political figures like Governor Jack Markell and Attorney General Beau Biden.

Known For

EQDE-Action.org is best known for its role in Delaware’s successful fight for transgender rights. The website was a key component of a broader advocacy effort that included partnerships with organizations like Equality Delaware and the HRC. It demonstrated how digital tools could be leveraged to engage citizens in the legislative process, serving as a model for future advocacy websites in other states.

Details, Insights, and Specifics

The website was a reflection of a wider social and cultural shift in Delaware, where public opinion was increasingly in favor of laws protecting transgender individuals from discrimination. EQDE-Action.org’s form-based approach made it easy for residents to engage with their legislators, amplifying the voices of those who might not otherwise have participated in the political process. The website not only connected Delawareans with their legislators but also educated them on the importance of the bill and the protections it sought to provide.

The campaign’s success, in part due to EQDE-Action.org, highlighted the importance of advocacy in securing legislative victories for marginalized communities. By simplifying the process of political engagement, the website helped ensure that Delaware’s transgender population would be protected under the law, providing them with the same rights as other marginalized groups, including racial and religious minorities.

Reviews and Audience Feedback

While there are no direct reviews of EQDE-Action.org, the success of SB 97 and the widespread participation in its advocacy campaign suggest that the website was effective in its mission. The bipartisan support for the bill, along with the backing of prominent businesses and politicians, indicates that the platform successfully engaged its audience and contributed to meaningful legislative change.

Cultural Significance

The passing of SB 97, supported by platforms like EQDE-Action.org, marked a significant cultural moment for Delaware. The state’s decision to protect transgender individuals from discrimination reflected broader trends in U.S. society, where LGBTQ+ rights were increasingly becoming a mainstream issue. The website’s role in this movement cannot be understated, as it empowered ordinary citizens to take part in the political process and helped shift the cultural conversation in favor of inclusivity and fairness.

 

One particularly notable aspect of the campaign was the involvement of Delaware’s business community. Over 200 businesses signed a statement supporting SB 97, recognizing that protecting transgender individuals from discrimination was not only the right thing to do but also beneficial for the state’s economy. This widespread support from the business sector was a key factor in the bill’s passage and was likely amplified by the advocacy efforts on EQDE-Action.org.

EQDE-Action.org was a vital tool in Delaware’s successful campaign to pass SB 97 and protect transgender individuals from discrimination. The website played a crucial role in mobilizing public support, engaging citizens in the legislative process, and contributing to a significant cultural shift within the state. Through its efforts, Delaware became a leader in LGBTQ+ rights, setting an example for other states to follow.