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DC approves same-sex marriage law

kaya'08

kaya'08

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Washington DC city council has voted to recognise same-sex marriages conducted in other US states.

Because Washington DC is not a state, the decision will now have to be approved by Congress before it can become law.

Four US states - Vermont, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Iowa - now permit gay marriage, and legislation to allow it is in progress in other states.

The resolution was passed in the council by 12 votes to one.

Council member David A Catania - one of two openly gay members of the body - explained his reasons for supporting the measure during the debate.

"This issue is whether or not our colleagues on a personal level view me and [Council member] Jim Graham as your equals," he said.

"If we are permitted the same rights and responsibilities and obligations as our colleagues. So this is personal. This is acknowledging our families as much as we acknowledge you."

Fellow council member, and former Washington DC Mayor Marion Barry, was the only member to vote against the proposal.
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Fellow council member, and former Washington DC Mayor Marion Barry, was the only member to vote against the proposal.

"I understand this is personal to you and Mr Graham," he said in response to Mr Catania's remarks.

"I resent Mr Catania saying either you are a bigot or against bigotry as though this particular legislation represents all of that."

BBC NEWS | Americas | DC approves same-sex marriage law

This is going to be a hot one.
 
Has to be approved by congress? That should be interesting...
 
BBC NEWS | Americas | DC approves same-sex marriage law


Boston and DC...maybe gay marriage will make its way through the NE corridor from the north and the South and meet together in the middle.

of course it has to be ratified by congress, which'll be an interesting vote to watch. I think it'll pass with typical partisan stratification.
 
Fellow council member, and former Washington DC Mayor Marion Barry, was the only member to vote against the proposal.
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:lol::rofl:lol:
 
I doubt Congress will be a serious factor here. With the Democrats having a soon-to-be filibuster proof majority, and with many of the Republicans probably not wanting to reopen such a divisive issue...my prediction is that Congress will quietly approve this without too much trouble. Even some of the congressmen who claim to be against same-sex marriage could justify a "yes" vote by saying that they aren't technically voting for same-sex marriage (only the recognition of same-sex marriage performed outside the District), and that they are just following the wishes of the DC residents.
 
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Kandahar said:
I doubt Congress will be a serious factor here. With the Democrats having a soon-to-be filibuster proof majority, and with many of the Republicans probably not wanting to reopen such a divisive issue...my prediction is that Congress will quietly approve this without too much trouble. Even some of the congressmen who claim to be against same-sex marriage could justify a "yes" vote by saying that they aren't technically voting for same-sex marriage (only the recognition of same-sex marriage performed outside the District), and that they are just following the wishes of the DC residents.
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First thing they should do is celebrate with a Gay Pride Parade in front of the White House. I hope Michelle participates, she has the right shoes for it.
 
American said:
First thing they should do is celebrate with a Gay Pride Parade in front of the White House. I hope Michelle participates, she has the right shoes for it.
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Wow...I'm impressed American....a little bit of a sense of humor. Actually quite funny...I didn't know you had it in you;)
 
Kandahar said:
I doubt Congress will be a serious factor here. With the Democrats having a soon-to-be filibuster proof majority, and with many of the Republicans probably not wanting to reopen such a divisive issue...my prediction is that Congress will quietly approve this without too much trouble. Even some of the congressmen who claim to be against same-sex marriage could justify a "yes" vote by saying that they aren't technically voting for same-sex marriage (only the recognition of same-sex marriage performed outside the District), and that they are just following the wishes of the DC residents.
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I think it will be a bit harder than that. I think there are enough democrats that would see this as hurting their re-election chances to make this at best close, possibly not able to pass.

Oh, American, I put the first sentence in my post above as a reference point for the second sentence...it was not ignorance on my part.
 
Oooh, DC, what a surprise. :roll:

No really, the 3rd most liberal city in the US(at LEAST 3rd, if not 1st), is recognizing gay marriage done in other states. The only surprise here is the fact that didn't just outright recognize GM decades ago.
 
Moderator's Warning:
Threads merged.
 
DarkWizard12 said:
Oooh, DC, what a surprise. :roll:

No really, the 3rd most liberal city in the US(at LEAST 3rd, if not 1st), is recognizing gay marriage done in other states. The only surprise here is the fact that didn't just outright recognize GM decades ago.
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New Hampshire has also approved gay marriage. Some day Texas will too despite the amendment.
 
winston53660 said:
New Hampshire has also approved gay marriage. Some day Texas will too despite the amendment.
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New Hampshire is very socially liberal though. NH makes up for it in their gun laws ;)
 
Fellow council member, and former Washington DC Mayor Marion Barry, was the only member to vote against the proposal.
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See what crack does to ya? :rofl
 
I'd have to think that by the end of Obama's first (of two) term, more than half of our states will have legalized gay marriage. By the end of his 2nd term.. who knows? :cool:
 
ADK_Forever said:
I'd have to think that by the end of Obama's first (of two) term, more than half of our states will have legalized gay marriage. By the end of his 2nd term.. who knows? :cool:
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I don't, it won't take a president that supports/tolerates gay marriage, it will take a whole lot of people in congress for that to happen IMO.
 
TheNextEra said:
I don't, it won't take a president that supports/tolerates gay marriage, it will take a whole lot of people in congress for that to happen IMO.
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Actually I think the Supreme Court will resolve this issue before Congress or the White House does. I wouldn't be surprised to see a SCOTUS decision legalizing gay marriage nationwide sometime in the next decade...possibly a 8-1 or 7-2 decision.
 
Kandahar said:
Actually I think the Supreme Court will resolve this issue before Congress or the White House does. I wouldn't be surprised to see a SCOTUS decision legalizing gay marriage nationwide sometime in the next decade...possibly a 8-1 or 7-2 decision.
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I don't know, me personally I would like to see the SCOTUS grow a pair and actually decide for gay marriage, but I don't see it happening. Not at least for a few more decades. They seem to be avoiding this decision like the plague.
 
kaya'08 said:
Fellow council member, and former Washington DC Mayor Marion Barry, was the only member to vote against the proposal.
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I'm just going to take a wild stab in the dark here... but I'd bet that if gay marriage were placed on a city-wide ballot in DC it would be defeated in numbers more overwhelming than most red states.

:2wave:
 
ADK_Forever said:
I'd have to think that by the end of Obama's first (of two) term, more than half of our states will have legalized gay marriage. By the end of his 2nd term.. who knows? :cool:
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We might be able to get you hooked up if you like.
 
Grateful Heart said:
I'm just going to take a wild stab in the dark here... but I'd bet that if gay marriage were placed on a city-wide ballot in DC it would be defeated in numbers more overwhelming than most red states.

:2wave:
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And if we had depended on backwards rednecks to decide slavery, whether blacks and whites should marry, integration and women's rights. I'd be working a cotton field and you'd be getting lynched. Tyranny of the masses isn't always that great of an idea.
 
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