district residence state_senate predecessor imagesize party term_start spouse article_title name
9th stanton , delaware delaware thomas b. sharp 147x democrat 2002 vikki bandy karen e. peterson
 karen peterson
karen e. peterson

karen peterson is an american politician , currently serving in the delaware general assembly as a state senator .
first elected in 2002 , she is a member of the democratic party .
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 .
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 .
the two were married on july 1 , 2013 , becoming the first same-sex couple to be married in delaware .
