As a Virginian it will be interesting to see whether or not gays living in Northern Virginia will pick up and move into Washington, D.C., if same sex marriage becomes a reality in the District where already LGBT citizens have protections that do not exist in Virginia. If circumstances were different, I'd certainly leave Virginia and, indeed, had once in the past wanted to move to D.C. Living as a third class citizen in a backwards area does get old after a while. The latest development in the D.C. marriage bill is a revised religious exemption which would allow denominations hostile toward gays to avoid having to in any way participate in same sex weddings. As I have stated countless times, religious views of homophobes should have no place in barring the CIVIL marriage for LGBT citizens. Here are some highlights from the Washington Post:*
A D.C. Council committee is expected to approve major changes Tuesday to the bill to legalize same-sex marriage in the District, including adopting a provision that will make it easier for church officials to avoid participation in gay weddings and receptions.
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As currently drafted, the legislation states that religious officials would have to offer wedding-related services to same-sex couples if those services are available to the public. But the Archdiocese of Washington and other religious organizations oppose that language, arguing that it would force them to restrict charitable and other services.
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Bowing to that pressure, a council committee is expected to revise the bill to state that a church or religious official can deny services related to the "solemnization, celebration, or promotion" of a same-sex wedding without fear of running afoul of the city's anti-discrimination laws.
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The proposed revisions mean, for example, that church officials do not have to rent reception space to a same-sex couple for a wedding, even if heterosexual couples can access that space. But churches would still have to abide by other aspects of the city's Human Rights Act, including not discriminating against gay employees who choose to get married.
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The bill, which is supported by at least 10 of 13 council members, is expected to be approved before Christmas.
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In addition to the religious exemption, the revised version of the bill developed by Mendelson continues domestic partnerships in the District. If approved by the committee, the change could mean that the District will be the first jurisdiction in the nation in which same-sex couples will have the choice of getting married or entering a domestic partnership.
A D.C. Council committee is expected to approve major changes Tuesday to the bill to legalize same-sex marriage in the District, including adopting a provision that will make it easier for church officials to avoid participation in gay weddings and receptions.
*
As currently drafted, the legislation states that religious officials would have to offer wedding-related services to same-sex couples if those services are available to the public. But the Archdiocese of Washington and other religious organizations oppose that language, arguing that it would force them to restrict charitable and other services.
*
Bowing to that pressure, a council committee is expected to revise the bill to state that a church or religious official can deny services related to the "solemnization, celebration, or promotion" of a same-sex wedding without fear of running afoul of the city's anti-discrimination laws.
*
The proposed revisions mean, for example, that church officials do not have to rent reception space to a same-sex couple for a wedding, even if heterosexual couples can access that space. But churches would still have to abide by other aspects of the city's Human Rights Act, including not discriminating against gay employees who choose to get married.
*
The bill, which is supported by at least 10 of 13 council members, is expected to be approved before Christmas.
*
In addition to the religious exemption, the revised version of the bill developed by Mendelson continues domestic partnerships in the District. If approved by the committee, the change could mean that the District will be the first jurisdiction in the nation in which same-sex couples will have the choice of getting married or entering a domestic partnership.
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