Common Cause Delaware honors Equality Delaware

Common Cause Delaware hosted its annual Sussex County Awards Ceremony Nov. 29 at the Baywood Clubhouse.

CCDE presented the Russell Peterson Public Service Award to Equality Delaware, the organization that led the statewide advocacy and educational campaigns that resulted in the Marriage Equality Bill and the Gender Identity Non-Discrimination Act of 2013. 

Close to 100 people braved the cold to attend the event, including New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer and Rep. Sherry Dorsey Walker, D-Wilmington, as well as Sen. Russ Huxtable, D-Lewes, and Rep. Paul Baumbach, D-Newark, both of whom brought tributes from the General Assembly honoring Equality Delaware.

Eugene Young, director of the Delaware State Housing Authority, and Sen. Bryan Townsend, D-Newark, also attended.  

The event included a reception followed by a short program. Both CCDE board Chair Jeff Raffel and Executive Director Claire Snyder-Hall shared information about what their nonpartisan organization does to protect and strengthen democracy in the First State, including the Election Protection program it plans to organize again in 2024.   

Mark Purpura and Lisa Goodman accepted the award on behalf of Equality Delaware and gave some remarks about the efforts they made 10 years ago to strengthen equality in Delaware.  

The event raised money for CCDE's educational affiliate, the Common Cause Education Fund in Delaware.

For more information, go to commoncause.org/delaware.