August 8, 2006
Anti-Gay Marriage Initiative To Be Filed in District
While a number of states continue to debate or enact bans on gay marriage, the District, long a progressive-minded town with an active gay population, has steered clear of the debate. Until now, it seems.
A ballot initiative to define marriage as a union between a man and woman is set to be introduced before the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics, DCist has been told. Lisa Greene, a 40-year-old Republican activist and founder of D.C. Citizens for Marriage, is planning on introducing the initiative -- which would require some 19,000 signatures to be placed on the ballot, likely in 2008 -- in the coming weeks. Greene has twice attempted to get the initiative to the voters -- once last October and most recently on July 31 of this year -- though both times she withdrew the necessary paperwork because of filing errors, according to the Washington Blade.
Our favorite Ward 3 candidate, Jonathan Rees, informed us via press release of Greene's decision, and he pledged his support for the measure, writing:
I support Ms. Greene's objective, will lend my lobbying and marketing talents to the effort, and I have asked a large group of Latinos who specialize in the distribution of political matters to lend their talents to this effort.Though the District is largely Democratic, its majority African-American population may well endorse such a ban on gay marriage. During the course of the mayoral campaign, few candidates have directly stated their support for gay marriage, opting instead to declare their general support for gay rights and civil unions. If the measure were placed on the ballot and passed, Congress would have to vote in its favor to put it into effect.I believe that homosexuality is in direct violation of the teachings of all religions, patently unnatural, an unhealthy life-style both physiologically and psychologically as well as posing a health risk to the non-homosexual populace in general.
Update: Just as a clarification, Rees is not really our "favorite" Ward 3 candidate. We meant that with all due sarcasm.
|
Sweet, another reason to despise Rees, as if there spamming troll wasn't enough.
test
Please clarify your editorial position on Ms. Greene's ballot initiative. The above post, by identifying Jonathan Rees as your "favorite Ward 3 candidate," suggests the editors of DCist support the passage of a ban on gay marriage in the District. Is this your position? Thank you.
Test
How depressing.
Another reason to despise Rees. Hot dog, as if spam and trolling weren't enough.
There is nothing inherent in a having a majority African-American community and being anti-same-sex civil marriage.
The majority black Oakland, Ca, which just elected the estimable Black civil rights leader Ron Dellums (who relocated from DC to Oakland) as mayor. And is represented in Congress by the very liberal Barbara Lee (also African American) actually was MORE progressive in terms of same-sex partner rights and benefits than San Francisco, even recently, has passed legislation in support of SF mayor Gavin Newsom and his civil disobedience against state law.
Oakland's a racial makeup is very similar to DC. (It has more Asians and Hispanics and less Whites, but otherwise about the same number of Blacks.) African Americans in general are and should be allies on the civil rights of same-sex partners. Their preachers not withstanding. (And the preachers make all the noise and did in Oakland as well, where you had the added factor of the heavy and powerful presence of the anti-gay Black Muslim groups.) DC shouldn't let racial politics be an excuse to approve discrimination.
I could see this having support in many quarters of D.C., if only because to some, "gay" sort of represents "white" and the ever-increasing yuppification of the District.
So long as Mr. Rees is lending all of his "lobbying and marketing talents" to the effort, I think we're safe. Who knew he could actually be useful one day?
I can pretty much assume that the concept of "favorite" is tongue firmly planted in cheek.
Indeed, if this is the vitriol that Rees has been spreading, then it is no wonder he doesn't even register on any polling, etc. being conducted in the Ward.
Ward 3 voters are as, more socially liberal than other Wards in the City. I am glad the candidate is so enlightened on civilr rights and liberties.
I hope this measure dies the painful death it deserves. Until these bigots can give me one good reason (and "because it's wrong" is not a good reason) why gay people's happiness hurts me as a heterosexual in any way, shape or form, they all need to shut the hell up.
Martin,
It is absolutely ridiculous for you to consider anything Rees puts out to be 'newsworthy'.
This won't happen. End of story.
"I believe that homosexuality is in direct violation of the teachings of all religions"
Indeed. Every religion states, categorically, 'homos are bad, mmkay?' I'm glad we have such a well-read cross-disciplinary prophet to provide us religious guidance.
"posing a health risk to the non-homosexual populace in general."
Ew! We might catch 'gay'! Quick - - don't let them have equal rights!!
Honestly, why does Rees even wake up in the morning?
WHAT!?! Like Congress wouldn't approve. This woman has to be stopped ASAP. This is complete bullshit.
"I believe that homosexuality is in direct violation of the teachings of all religions"
And what about those people who are not religious? You know, we do exist. I see that some of us still don't understand the concept of separating church and state.
"Our favorite Ward 3 candidate, Jonathan Rees, informed us via press release of Greene's decision, and he pledged his support for the measure, writing:"
Wow! DCist supports such a candidate? Sure is nice to know........
The bigot in question is Lisa Greene, not Linda.
1. 50% of Marriages in the US end in divorce. Perhaps gay marriage will help make those stats look a little less depressing.
2. Pay no mind to the Nation of Islam and that lot. If I remember my "Autobiography of Malcolm X" lessons, most tradition sects of Islam in Africa, Asia and the Middle East (both Sunni and Shi'ite) view it as somewhat heretical and bizarre. Besides, how many of these brothers do I still eatin' that pork.
3. I hate my job.
DC1974 would like DCist to please be renamed to "Oaklandist," pronto. Thanks.
That would be terrific.. Then we could all bow to the greatness of (governor) Mayor Moonbeam.
Rees is such an obvious closet case himself - his obsession with gays and gay sex, as evidenced by his tiresome screeds on local blogs, certainly suggests classic overcompensation. And he's as ill-informed about comparative religion as he apppears to be about most topics.
I'm pretty sure most religions frown on bearing false witness, lying, attacking and intimidating - the hallmarks of his yearlong reign of online terror. It should be pointed out that the Bible he's suddenly interested in also advocates keeping Kosher, avoiding shellfish and the stoning to death of adulterous women. Somehow, one imagines he'll get around to advocating the latter too.
Separation of church and state, anyone? The Unnameable One seems to be running on the Taliban ticket.
As others have noted its Lisa Green who is the real bigot.
Looks like the text is "The Citizens of the District of Columbia and the District Council defines and preserves marriage as a relationship between one man and one woman only."
It's ungrammatical, but the proponents didn't get carried away and add language that would outlaw civil unions or be even more restrictive, as they have in Virginia and other places. Unfortunately that means it would have a better chance of passing, though I'm not convinced that the mere fact that the city is majority black means it has a chance.
She's withdrawn it. http://www.
wjla.
com/news/stories/
0806/349605.html
dcfb, I think that's why it says "twice" in the post. That seems to be the July 31 filing. Looks like Rees is just behind on his news reading and suckered DCist into posting old news.
Is DCist suggesting that African-Americans are inherently anti-gay?
That seems a bit racist, no?
Okay, Rees has now favored me with an e-mailed copy of his letter. My question is, if Lisa Greene is actually re-re-filing the thing, why isn't DC Citizens for Marriage sending out a press release itself rather than having Rees announce it?
The article mentions it being on the ballot in 2008 so I assume that means that they are just starting to try to gather signatures for an eventual, possible ballot measure.
KCinDC,
Ms. Greene has this matter now in the hands of a team of Christian lawyers who are re-writing it to comport with the requirements of DC BOEE.
Once that is done, the some odd 40 religious institutions are informed that a re-filing will take place so they can line up their flock to sign the ballot petition within the 180 days required, the it will be officially announced.
My role is merely lobbying the matter, PR and I am bringing in the evil Ramon Jose Stewart-Rivera an equal opportunity offender and his ban of elvs to handle distribution of fliers in wards 1,2, 3 and 4.
I promised my arch enemy Martin that I would keep him posted so he can follow up before reporting further.
In the future, stop calling me Rees. Just callo me Psycho Johnny!
Get lost Rees. You've offended everyone on this website too many times to ever get back in our good graces.
Not that you were ever in them, you despicable, deranged little man.
If Rees and his imaginary friends are handling "PR", then I'm not the least it worried.
;-)