The Washington D.C. city council is expected to vote to legalize homosexual 'marriage' and although Congress is the ultimate authority in the city, if it takes no action, the council decision will stand.
The Washington Post writes, "the city's politically active gay community has spent decades working to elect like-minded officials."
UPDATE 10/6/09: GOP Congressman will attempt to stop D.C. "gay marriage"
UPDATE 9/18/09: Congressmen question their involvement in D.C. affairs
-- From "D.C. Says Votes Aligned for Gay Marriage Bill" by Tim Craig, Washington Post Staff Writer 9/11/09
After months of buildup and behind-the-scenes lobbying, a bill by David A. Catania, one of two openly gay members of the [D.C.] council, has been drafted and is ready to be introduced in the coming weeks. Catania (I-At Large) expects a final vote before the end of the year. On Thursday, Catania said he had 10 co-sponsors, all but assuring that the measure will be approved by the council. The bill would have to survive congressional review before it could become law.
Peter Rosenstein, a longtime gay rights activist, said he and other advocates are banking on Democrats in Congress to fend off the [Christian] opposition. "Our hope is a Democratic Congress will be able to keep any bills or actions off the floor," Rosenstein said. "Do we have a guarantee? No. But we are fairly confident at this point."
The bill, a copy of which was obtained by The Washington Post, would change the law to say that "marriage is the legally recognized union of two people" and that "any person who otherwise meets the eligibility requirements . . . may marry any other eligible person regardless of gender."
If Congress fails to intervene, the District will become the only jurisdiction south of the Mason-Dixon line where same-sex couples can marry. Gays and lesbians from across the country would probably flock to the city to take their vows, as they did in California before voters passed a referendum banning same-sex marriages. Gay rights activists in Maryland said the sight of gay couples getting married in the District would boost the chance that the General Assembly would approve a gay marriage bill within a few years.
There are signs that the bill will probably generate heated opposition from members of the city's religious community, and some are concerned that the issue could split the city along racial lines. It is also sparking a debate about whether voters, as opposed to council members, should have the final say over the issue.
Same-sex marriages are performed in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa and Vermont. They will be legal in New Hampshire in January. The Maine legislature has approved same-sex marriage, but a referendum will be held on the measure in November.
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