Celebrate your Love: Celebrate Marriage Equality

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Citizens cheer as D.C. Council passes same-sex marriage law

On Tuesday December 15, D.C. City Council voted in a massive landslide (11 to 2) to adopt a full marriage equality law, for the first time extending civil marriage recognition to same-sex couples. The only two Council Members dissenting were Yvette Alexander (D-Ward 7) and Marion Barry (D-Ward 8). Mayor Adrian Fenty has pledged to sign the bill, after which point Congress will have 30 legislative days to review the new law before it goes into effect.

While civil rights advocates cheered yesterday's landmark recognition of equal rights for gay and lesbian citizens in the nation's capital, out-of-town opponents of marriage equality (such as the misnamed National Organization for Marriage) quickly escalated their demands that Congress abuse the District by intervening to prevent the democratically-adopted law from taking effect. In addition, Beltsville, MD pastor Harry Jackson vowed to file additional legal challenges in an effort to overturn the newly voted law.

Marriage equality advocates are being encouraged to rally to the support of D.C.'s Congressional delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, who stated yesterday that "It's the district's business... It's the right thing to do, and it's my job to make sure Congress does nothing."

Also, D.C. residents are encouraged to send their Council Members a message of support for their vote in favor of the new civil marriage equality law. Council Member David Catania (I-At Large) deserves special recognition as the principal architect and long-time proponent of this major evolution in D.C.'s recognition of equal rights for all of its citizens. But for the record, let us recognize here all of our elected Council Members and our Mayor who will go down on the right side of history for voting in favor of marriage equality for gays and lesbians.

David A. Catania, Councilmember (At-Large)
Phil Mendelson, Councilmember (At-Large)
Vincent C. Gray, Council Chairman
Kwame R. Brown, Councilmember (At-Large)
Michael A. Brown, Councilmember (At-Large)
Jim Graham, Councilmember (Ward 1)
Jack Evans, Councilmember (Ward 2)
Mary M. Cheh, Councilmember (Ward 3)
Muriel Bowser, Councilmember (Ward 4)
Harry Thomas, Jr., Councilmember (Ward 5)
Tommy Wells, Councilmember (Ward 6)

Marriage equality bill clears committee, heading toward full Council vote

On Tuesday, the Committee on Public Safety and the Judiciary, chaired by Council Member Phil Mendelson (D-At Large), approved marriage equality legislation by a vote of 4 to 1. The lone dissent came from Yvette Alexander (D-Ward 7). The bill now proceeds to consideration by the full Council, with a vote expected in the first week of December. With every Council Member except Alexander and Marion Barry (D-Ward 8) having signed on as co-sponsors, the bill is expected to secure Council passage and Mayor Fenty has pledged to sign it.

However, as District residents are well aware, the bill must then undergo a review period of 30 legislative days of Congress before it can become law. That is why all marriage equality supporters must continue to reach out into and beyond their communities, tell their stories, and make the case that marriage is a civil right and should be available to LGBT families as well.

Proposed marriage equality legislation triggers marriage proposal in Council chambers

In the last two weeks, over 250 citizens have testified, overwhelmingly in favor, for the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Equality Amendment Act of 2009 in front of the DC City Council. Amidst emotional proceedings that lasted for several hours over two legislative sessions, one witness, a Mr. Andrew Hertzberg, crystallized the bill's core purpose with his impassioned address to his boyfriend Andy Rollman:

"Andy, you've changed my life. You bring out the best in me. I love you so much. On this day when we talk about the hopes of marriage, I'd like to ask you: Will you marry me?"

Local religious leaders offer support for same-sex marriage bill at DC Council hearing

As DC City Council considers legislation introduced by David Catania (I-At Large) to extend marriage rights to same-sex couples, religious leaders representing multiple faiths in all 8 wards banded together last Friday to voice strong support for the proposed law. The event took place at the historic Asbury United Methodist Church, whose Rev. Louis Shockley proclaimed that "this congregation has always stood on the side of justice."

One of the equality coalition's founding members, the Rev. Christine Y. Wiley of the Covenant Baptist Church, shared her view that "as African Americans who have been discriminated against... we don't have the right to discriminate against anyone else."

Rabbi Jessica Oleon of Temple Sinai applied to the LGBT community the teachings expressed in the Talmud that "a person who does not have a spouse lives without joy, without blessing, without goodness... without wisdom and without moral protection... and they are also without peace. And none of us children of God have the right to deny those things to any other person."

Marriage equality rally signals hardened DC resolve in face of Maine setback

On Wednesday, over a hundred supporters of marriage equality gathered in Dupont circle to rally in the aftermath of Maine's narrow vote to repeal marriage equality at the ballot box. Emotions in the crowd were strong, with the rally's organizers seeking to channel the crowd's anger at the outcome in Maine into a reinforced push to secure marriage equality here in the District of Columbia.

One strikingly out-of-place visitor kept a quiet watch on the rally from a bench nearby. Fresh from bankrolling Maine's Yes on 1 campaign, which blanketed the state with fear-mongering lies that gays are somehow "after your children," Maggie Gallagher, President of the National Organization for Marriage, surveyed the rally from the shadows.

But she did not go unnoticed. During his speech, Michael Crawford of DC for Marriage called her out: "I'm here today to tell you Maggie, I'm sorry, but you cannot stop marriage equality here in the nation's capital."

D.C. marriage equality bill introduced; hearing set for October 26

On Tuesday, D.C. City Council Member David Catania (I-At Large) introduced a bill, cosponsored by 9 of his 12 fellow members of the Council, that would allow same-sex couples to wed within the District. Earlier this year, Council Member Phil Mendelson (D-At Large) successfully shepherded into law a requirement that D.C. recognize same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions; the new proposal currently before the Council would permit any couples (residents or otherwise) to have their nuptials in the nation's capital.

The bill, formally titled "The Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Equality Amendment Act of 2009," will first be considered in the Council's Judiciary committee, chaired by Mendelson. A hearing on the bill is scheduled for Monday, October 26, at 3:30pm in the 5th floor Council chambers of the Wilson Building (located at 1350 Pennsylvania Ave, N.W.). DC for Marriage is encouraging all marriage equality supporters (including singles, couples, already-married or engaged couples, straight allies, everyone!) to attend this important hearing and sign up to offer supportive testimony. We'll even help you draft your testimony and prepare your remarks; click here to sign up for a free training event on Monday, October 20, at 7pm.