Delaware became the latest American state to legalize homosexual unions.

“Effective Jan. 1, the law will provide legal protections and benefits for same-sex couples who solemnize their relationships,” The News Journal reported. “With the signing, Delaware becomes the eighth state to grant comprehensive same-sex relationship rights—either through same-sex marriage laws, civil unions or domestic partnerships. The law does not change federal law, which restricts marriage benefits to opposite-sex couples.”

Increasing numbers of Americans consider homosexual marriage acceptable, and think that laws banning same-sex unions are outdated. A 2010 survey by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life stated, “The shift in opinion on same-sex marriage has been broad-based, occurring across many demographic, political and religious factions.”

The research firm found that large numbers “of white mainline Protestants and white Catholics now favor allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally—the first time this has occurred in Pew Research Center surveys.”

With traditional marriage laws currently challenged in several courts across the nation, legislation allowing homosexual marriages is expected to be passed in other states.

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