Same-Sex Marriage Comes to Washington D.C.
A bill legalizing same-sex marriage in Washington D.C. was signed into law by D.C. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty in December last year. D.C., being a federal district, has its laws reviewed by Congress before they go into effect. The period of time Congress had to review the same-sex marriage legislation expired yesterday, and so today was the first day marriage licenses were issued to gay and lesbian couples.
Washington D.C. also permits voters to block legislation pending a referendum on the issue, but anything that violates the D.C. Human Rights Act is exempted from this policy. The United States Supreme Court decided today in a three-page ruling that the same-sex marriage law was covered by the Human Rights Act exemption. Therefore, the Court refused to grant the petitioners' request to stay the new legislation.
While the life of legal same-sex marriage in Washington D.C. is dependent on the eventual referendum vote, marriage licenses are now available to D.C. couples.
[Via The Associated Press]
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Hopefully the Supreme Court also refuses to hear the appeals on Prop 8 once Walker has made his decision.
- Ron, 03/03/10 at 4:22 pm