Delaware Bill Strikes Homosexuality as Marital Misconduct

The state Senate in Delaware has given final legislative approval to a bill removing homosexuality from the definition of misconduct serving as grounds for divorce.

The legislation, which was approved unanimously Thursday, strikes both "homosexuality" and "lesbianism" from the definition of marital misconduct.

The measure now goes to Democratic Gov. Jack Markell, who signed legislation in 2013 legally recognizing same-sex marriage in Delaware.

The divorce law defines marital misconduct as behavior by a spouse so destructive that a person filing for divorce could not reasonably be expected to continue in the relationship.

Other examples of such misconduct include adultery, bigamy, a criminal conviction that could result in imprisonment for a year or more, habitual drinking or drug use, and contracting a sexually transmitted disease.