DC Doing Same-Sex Marriage Right

The DC Board of Elections and Ethics ruled yesterday that a measure to let voters decide whether to ban same-sex marriage in DC cannot go on the ballot because it would violate a city human rights law. Bravo! This makes me proud to be a DC resident. Why can't other places get the fact that voting on civil rights doesn't work? Would there even be interracial marriage in many southern states if it required a vote? I don't think so.

The DC Council is expected to approve same-sex marriage in a vote on December 1, but it has to be voted on twice before passing. Apparently, DC can't be trusted with just one vote. We need an "Are you sure?" vote. Then, because DC government apparently rides the short bus to work, the U.S. Congress can override the vote.

The DC Council seems to be standing up to the Catholic Church threat of leaving a third of the city's poor in the lurch if the bill passes. The church has threatened to abandon its charity and adoption work in the city because gay marriage would violate the institutions core values. As we all recall from our bible studies, "the Lord said, feed the poor and clothe the naked, unless the gays can get married. In that case, let them go to hell." With all the gay priests out there abusing children, isn't it a bit self-righteous of the church to take such a hard line? I'm happy, at least, to see the tactic not working. I wouldn't think it is helping make the church look very Christian.

UPDATE: 11/19/09 -- Lawyers for the Alliance Defense Fund and Stand4MarriageDC have filed a lawsuit in DC Superior Court to get the initiative on the ballot.