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.

Marriage Equality Convocation celebrates pending DC legislation, declares "Our time is now!"

On Wednesday night, hundreds of supporters gathered at the True Reformer building at 12th and U Streets NW to cheer the introduction of pending legislation for achieving civil marriage equality in the District of Columbia.

The event led off with an impassioned speech by a guest of the City, Rev. Eric P. Lee, president of the Los Angeles chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Lee outlined 5 basic tenets for the marriage equality movement to follow: "education, for the purpose of organization, for the purpose of mobilization, for the purpose of agitation, for the purpose of transformation... in societal attitudes" toward LGBT citizens and same-sex relationships. In rebuttal to marriage opponents who seek to fracture DC along racial and religious lines, Lee invoked the powerful words of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr: "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." Lee offered the perfect segue for pending marriage equality legislation with a rousing declaration that "the burden of discrimination is on those who are discriminating... Make the oppressor defend their discrimination! Make them look you in the eye. Make them engage you with respect."

The crowd then gave a lengthy standing ovation to DC City Council Member David Catania (At-Large), who is planning on October 6 to introduce the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Equality Amendment Act of 2009. Catania refuted incrementalism and delay with a bold approach, stating firmly that, "We're going to do this now. Not for ourselves, but for the young people who are now 16 or 20 years old, and who deserve to grow up in a more perfect community and society than we did." Addressing concerns over religious freedom, Catania noted that the legislation makes it "abundantly clear that no religious figures will be compelled... to provide their services to any marriage that they do not approve of" even while the legislation underscores that "we live in a secular society where our citizens are equal."

Catania was joined on the dais by fellow Council Members Michael Brown (At-Large), Tommy Wells (Ward 6), and Phil Mendelson (At-Large). Mendelson announced that the Council's Judiciary Committee, which he chairs, will conduct a full and fair process for considering the bill, which will include a public hearing at which he will allow all interested citizens to testify. Mendelson predicted that the bill would successfully pass the Council and projected that a solid majority of DC citizens would support its passage; however, he urged attendees to continue educating and solidifying public support across the District to strengthen the bill's chances of navigating successfully through a subsequent period of Congressional review.

The Convocation drew to a close with thunderous shouts of "Our Time is Now!" You can learn more about the campaign to support the pending DC legislation at dcourtimeisnow.org. And, of course, DC for Marriage will continue to build public support in the District for marriage equality - you can join our efforts by signing our pledge, becoming a fan on Facebook, and/or contributing a donation of any amount. With your support, we will achieve civil marriage equality in DC!

Convocation September 30th

A marriage equality Convocation will be held on Wednesday, September the 30th, featuring a presentation on marriage equality legislation by D.C. Councilmember David Catania

The convocation will feature leading activists in DC and will be a great way for all activists to communicate with each other and ensure that marriage equality becomes a reality. The Convocation will be held at 1200 U st NW at 7:00 PM.

For more information, visit: www.dcourtimeisnow.org