Tuesday, December 15, 2009

D.C. Council Approves Bill Legalizing Gay Marriage

As many outlets and blogs are reporting, the Washington, D.C., city council by a vote of 11 to 2 voted to approve same sex marriage in the District of Columbia. The action must survive a 30 day period in which Congress and the White House could vote to disapprove the measure. Meanwhile the Christo-fascists are going berserk and nasty, self-enriching, fraud Maggie Gallagher - faux Christian crusader married to a Hindu - is declaring that the National Organization for Marriage - the organization she uses to enrich herself - will launch an effort to force a referendum. The further irony, of course, is that a number of black pastors are carrying water on the referendum effort at the bidding of the descendants of white Christianists who first wanted to maintain slavery and then later segregation (these pastors truly need to study their history and educate themselves as to who they are allowing to dupe them). Here are some highlights from the Washington Post (my further comments follow below):
*
The D.C. Council gave final approval Tuesday to a bill to legalize same-sex marriage, setting off a wave of excitement in the gay community even as opponents vow to continue the fight on Capitol Hill.
*
The bill, approved by a vote of 11 to 2, will now go to Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D), who is expected to sign it before Christmas. The bill will become law in the spring if it survives a 30-day legislative review period.
*
To block the legislation, the Democratic-controlled House and Senate and President Obama would all have to sign off on a disapproval resolution within 30 legislative days, which advocates say is not likely.
*
The Rev. Anthony Evans, associate minister of Mount Zion Baptist Church, said he and other ministers will not relent in their efforts to block the legislation. Led by Bishop Harry Jackson of Hope Christian Church, opponents of the bill have sued in Superior Court to try to force a referendum to define marriage as only between a man and a woman.
*
"This is a moment in history that I think all gay people have been waiting for," Erika Zommer, 27, of Northeast Washington, said in an interview at the rally. "But I think with my generation, I knew this day would come."

*
What will be interesting to see is whether or not the Roman Catholic Church now makes good on its threat to shut down services to homeless shelters, food programs for needy families, and health services rather than provide equal benefits for employees in same-sex CIVIL marriages. When given the opportunities, the Church hierarchy seems to always choose to act like modern day Pharisees rather than move forward with proper Christian behavior. For those who want to write to the Catholic Archdiocese and ask that true Christian principles prevail, you can do so here.

No comments: