Washington D.C. Councilman David
Catania (I-At Large) introduced his gay marriage bill Tuesday.
Supporters of gay marriage in the
District have been expecting the legislation since July, when
lawmakers agreed to recognize gay marriages performed outside the
District, effectively allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry so
long as they hop on a train to a nearby state where gay marriage is
legal.
The bill, titled the Religious
Freedom and Civil Marriage Amendment Act of 2009, would change
the definition of marriage to say that “marriage is the legally
recognized union of two people” and “any person who otherwise
meets the eligibility requirements … may marry any other eligible
person regardless of gender.”
Four states – Connecticut, Iowa,
Vermont and Massachusetts – allow gay marriage. New Hampshire will
begin in January. Lawmakers in Maine also approved a gay marriage
law in the spring, but opponents have managed to put the law up for a
vote. Question
1 will decide whether the law remains.
Catania introduced his bill at a
standing-room-only council meeting, the Wall Street Journal
reported.
“There is no question that we are
about to embark on an exciting journey here in the district,” he
said.
With 10 out of 13 council members
supporting the bill, its passage is nearly certain. But it might get
a fight from Congress, which has the final say on laws passed by the
city.
Utah Representative Jason Chaffetz is
already on record opposing the bill.
“Some fights are worth fighting for,”
the Republican told the paper.
But Catania, one of two openly gay
council members, says he has spoken with the White House about the
issue.
“We are not asking the White House to
change its position on marriage equality – the discussion with the
White House is about supporting local home rule,” Catania told
reporters. “Everyone knows where the president is on this issue,
but we also know the president has high regard for home rule and
local autonomy. And on those grounds we believe the White House
should work with us in defending the actions of the local
government.”
Any resolution that would block D.C.'s
gay marriage law would need to be signed by President Obama.
The measure is more likely to encounter
turbulence from the small but vocal group of religious leaders who
attempted to end the city's gay marriage recognition law.
Opponents – lead by Bishop Harry
Jackson, senior pastor of Hope Christian Church and founder of the
anti-gay marriage group Stand4MarriageDC
– continue to pursue a ballot initiative that would ban gay
marriage in the District. The one sentence initiative says, “Only
marriage between a man and a woman is valid and recognized in the
District of Columbia.”
Catania said he hopes for a vote in
December.