The Manhattan Project
Compromise Uncertain on Same-Sex Marriage Law
Morning Roundup: Second Helpings Edition
Go Home Already: Shouts and Murmurs
Fire at 17th and L NW Forces Evacuations
As City Desk noted last week, D.C. will recognize same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions starting 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, barring any last-ditch appeal today. That’s when the clock runs out on the 30-day congressional review of the marriage recognition bill passed in May by the D.C. Council and signed by Mayor Fenty. The Board of Elections and Ethics recently rejected an attempt led by Maryland Bishop Harry Jackson to put the bill up for a referendum, a decision upheld by Superior Court Judge Judith Retchin.
After Tuesday, same sex marriages performed in other states and countries will be legally recognized in the District. The possibility of a ballot initiative similar to California's Proposition 8 being brought to overturn the law remains open.
“There have been legally married gay and lesbian couples in D.C. for several years, but until this moment those marriages went unrecognized by the city," said Michael Crawford, co-chair of D.C. for Marriage, a grassroots outreach group that recently gathered 130 signatures from local clergy members in support of marriage equality. "Now these couples are able to celebrate their marriages and have them recognized as valid in the District. This is a wonderful step forward in ensuring that all families in the District are treated equally under the law."
Assuming nothing happens to delay the implementation of the law between now and midnight, what do married same sex couples need to do to get recognized by the District? Nothing, really. If you have a valid marriage license from another jurisdiction, you are automatically legally married as far as the District is concerned. But if you or someone you know is planning any kind of second wedding celebration tonight or tomorrow, be sure to send in your photos (and invites!) to tips@dcist.com.
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Forget marriage. When will DC celebrate Marion Barry's ability to be a serial philanderer, stalk women half his age, and dodge tax collectors with impunity well into his 70s? Now, there's a role model that is also moral.
Or, more importantly, MB has more important things to do between now and midnight rather than worry about teh gayz.
Economic issues matter and marriage is an economic issue. Studies show that married people are slightly healthier (less costs) and wealthier (pay more taxes) than their single counterparts and this is true for gay people as well. Therefore, it is in the state's best economic interest to grant marriage equality. This is because there are thousands of rights and responsibilities that come with the legal contract of marriage (yes, marriage is a legal contract and gay people deserve these contract rights).
Hope those DC gays who married elsewhere (say, Canada?) are getting their tax accountants on the phone today.
Well, I haven't seen an official news release yet but it appears that the law should be in effect now... Hmmm... I feel like a trip to a marriage state so I can get hitched :-)