Karen Peterson | |
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Member of the Delaware Senate from the 9th district | |
In office November 6, 2002 –November 9, 2016 | |
Preceded by | Thomas B. Sharp |
Succeeded by | Jack Walsh |
Personal details | |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | Vikki Bandy |
Residence(s) | Stanton,Delaware |
Karen Peterson is an American politician who formerly represented the 9th district of the Delaware Senate. First elected in 2002,she is a member of the Democratic Party. Peterson served in the Senate until 2016.
On May 7,2013,Peterson came out as lesbian during Senate debate on same-sex marriage in Delaware,becoming the state's first openly LGBT legislator. [1] At that time,she had been with her partner Vikki Bandy for 24 years,and the two had entered a civil union when Delaware legalized them the year before. [2] The two were married on July 1,2013,becoming the first same-sex couple to convert their existing civil union into marriage in Delaware. [3]