DOVER — A bill that would expand the Delaware Code’s definition of sexuality to include the terms “asexual” and “pansexual” passed the Senate on Thursday, despite some pushback from Republicans.
With the approval, House Bill 275 now heads to Gov. John Carney’s desk, where it will await the term-limited governor’s signature.
The measure is sponsored by Rep. Eric Morrison, D-Glasgow, who became the first openly gay man elected to the Delaware General Assembly in 2020.
He said the legislation is about inclusion and that, over his 30 years of activity in the LGBTQ+ community, he has met many asexual and pansexual individuals who are “increasingly feeling more comfortable, honest and open about who they are.”
He noted that adding the two sexual orientations to state law is important for several reasons.
“First, it makes it crystal clear that neither discrimination nor hate crimes based on any sexual orientation would be tolerated. It lets individuals of all sexual orientations know that they are equally protected under Delaware law,” Rep. Morrison said on the House floor in March.
“Second, it sends a vital message to asexual and pansexual Delawareans that they are seen and valued every bit as much as heterosexual, homosexual and bisexual Delawareans.
“Representation matters, words matter, and seeing yourself in the world around you matters.”
According to the bill, “asexual” describes individuals with little to no sexual attraction to other people, but they could desire emotionally intimate relationships with others.
Further, “pansexual” refers to those who are attracted sexually or romantically, or both, to another person regardless of that individual’s sex or gender identity.
During debate on the proposal in the Senate, Republican Sens. Eric Buckson of Camden and Bryant Richardson of Seaford explained their reasons for not voting.
“I don’t want to offend anybody. I do have a concern about this, though, because there is something called ‘minor-attracted persons,’ and I think we’re on a pathway towards that. ‘Minor-attracted persons’ is a euphemism for being a pedophile, and I don’t want to see us going in that direction,” Sen. Richardson said. “I think we’re just going too far on some of these definitions and adding some of these.”
Sen. Buckson, who was a high school health educator for 30 years, said he has been a supporter of the LGBTQ+ community and that he respects a person’s right to be pansexual or asexual. However, he posed the questions, “What’s next, and where does it end?”
“I will not support adding letters that mean, words that mean, definitions that add to a space that is already confusing for our children going through adolescence,” he said. “That shouldn’t be offensive to say. It is already difficult enough for these young folks. … For the vast majority of kids, … they just need to be left alone by the grown-ups in the room, and they’ll figure it out.”
After the senators aired their grievances with the bill Thursday, lead Senate sponsor Sen. Laura Sturgeon, D-Woodbrook, immediately called for a roll-call vote, in which HB 275 passed 14-7. Sen. Darius Brown of Wilmington was the lone Democrat to oppose.
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