Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Same-Sex Marriage South of the Mason-Dixon

It could be legal by late spring in Washington DC (thanks Tracy for the clarification request), with any luck.
The City Council passed a measure Tuesday legalizing same-sex marriage, making the nation’s capital the first jurisdiction below the Mason-Dixon Line to allow such unions.

The bill, which passed by an 11-to-2 vote, may still face obstacles in Congress, among city voters and in the courts, but most advocates of same-sex marriage say they expect it to become law by spring. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty has said he will sign the bill.

Councilman David A. Catania, an independent and the author of the bill, gets my applause for opposing a referendum on the issue by summing up precisely why that shouldn't be on a ballot anywhere.
“It isn’t that I’m fearful of losing,” Mr. Catania said. “I think the process is diminishing. I think that putting the rights of minorities on the ballot and allowing the forces of intolerance to spend an unlimited amount to demonize and marginalize a population is unsavory.”

Speaking of "forces of intolerance..."
In November, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington said that if the ordinance were passed, the church might have to limit its social service programs that help residents with adoption, homelessness and health care.

That's nice, huh? I have to Bite. My. Tongue.

What's really twisted is that somewhere across this great nation, a vast number of fundies sincerely believe that God will seek revenge against Iowa, Connecticut, Vermont, and eventually DC and New Hampshire, by sending a catastrophic hurricane to the Florida panhandle or something. You know, God sucks at geography.

No comments: