Health

D.C. Votes 12-1 on gay marriage but Marion Barry was confused

by Amy Judd | May 5, 2009 at 08:33 am

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The D.C Council voted 12-1 this morning to recognize same-sex marriages that take place in other states, however the original vote was 13-0. After the vote was taken, Council member Marion Barry seemed to be confused by the whole ordeal and requested a second vote where he decided to vote against the bill. He said he 'didn't know what he was voting for'.

The approved law was added as an amendment to another bill, and can be seen on the second page of that bill's text (.pdf).

If Congress does not intervene, council member David A. Catania (I-At Large) has said that he will introduce a separate bill this year to allow same-sex marriages to be performed in the District.

It is unsure at this point whether the vote could go to District voters, but attorney Mark Levine said that the matter could not go to a public vote, because it would go against the District's Human Rights Act. However, some voter involvement may have to take place at some point.

"I don't think it works for us to try to artificially try to put it in the Human Rights Act," said council member Phil Mendelson (D-At Large), a supporter of gay marriage. "I have told the GLBT community that they have to make sure there is the public support for this. . . . If there is not, we can try all the maneuvering we want and still be in trouble."

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Barbara McPherson

at 09:59 on May 5th, 2009

It's amazing to see all the wasted energy on this debate. Times have changed and our recognition of human rights with it. It's time to move into the 21st century.