Photo by Fredo Alvarez

It’s like Groundhog Day, but with same-sex marriage in the balance.

As GLAA Forum and D.C. Wire noted, today the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics held another hearing on another proposed ballot measure on same-sex marriage in the District. This referendum would allow District voters to decide whether the recently passed law legalizing same-sex marriage should go into effect or not.

These hearings are becoming little more than political theater. The board has twice ruled that referenda or initiatives dealing with same-sex marriage are not permissible because they would violate the District’s Human Rights Act. Earlier this month, the D.C. Superior Court upheld that decision once again.

Regardless of how many times the board rules against them, gay marriage opponent Bishop Harry Jackson and his allies have pledged to keep requesting that the issue be voted on. And if you thought that today’s hearing and likely rejection will be the end of it, think again — there’s a hearing on February 16 on an initiative that would define marriage as being between a man and a woman.

In related news, Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Ut.) formally introduced legislation on Tuesday disapproving of the District’s move to legalize same-sex marriage. The resolution would have to be approved by both the House and the Senate and be signed by President Obama to take effect – which is not going to happen.