Hearings on District of Columbia
Councilman David Catania's (I-At Large) gay marriage bill get
underway Monday.
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.”
The District currently recognizes gay
marriages performed outside its borders.
Hundreds of people are expected to
testify before the Committee on Public Safety & Judiciary, an
event that is expected to last several days.
Two of the District's most ardent
opponents of gay nuptials, the Archdiocese of Washington and Bishop
Harry Jackson, are expected to testify against the measure.
Jackson and his allies 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.”
Proponents of the measure include gay
rights and civil liberty groups. A final vote may come as early as
December.
Two additional states – New York and
New Jersey – say they will move on gay marriage legislation before
the end of the year. And Maine voters will consider whether to
affirm a gay marriage law approved by lawmakers in the spring on
November 3.