DC approves same sex marriage

Written By:
Taylor Pinckney

Published:
Jan. 05 2010

The homosexual community was rejoicing on December 1 when the District of Columbia passed its first vote before the full county council with ease reguarding the legislation of gay marriage. This was a key step in a process that could enable gay couples to marry in the nation’s capital by the spring. The measure was introduced early October by Council member David Catania. Because it is such a controversial issue, there are bound to be a broad range of opinions. 

“I think that it should be legalized, everyone has the right to love.  A lot of people have trouble accepting the idea of gay marriage but it is not society’s right to do that,” junior Lizzie Stout said.

The bill was approved by the Council’s Committee on Public Safety and the Judiciary last month by a vote of 4-1. After several months of debate, the council passed the legislation 11 to 2 after an active discussion that extracted passionate statements from members about the historical significance of their action. While there are many people that feel as gay marriage is very wrong, and the legislation should not be passed, there are a good amount of people who think that the change is something that should have been guaranteed in the bill of rights.

“I think that whatever makes people happy is fine,” senior Seun Akande said.  “Everyone is supposed to have their own pursuit of happiness.”

There will be a second vote scheduled in two weeks. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty has said he will sign it. Council members and gay rights activists summon the vote as the end of a decade’s long struggle that started in 1975, when then-council member Arrington Dixon first proposed legalizing same-sex marriage in The District. Many agree that this bill is long overdue because of the way the society will react.

“The bill probably took so long because a lot of people are worried about change, kind of in the same way people had acted during the civil rights movement,” freshman Yafet Amanuel said. Although the outcome was expected in the heavily Democratic city, the move remains controversial because of the opposition from socially conservative churches. The most vocal opposition came from the Catholic Archdiocese of Washington. Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl has warned that legalizing same-sex marriage would force the Church’s social services arm to scale back its efforts in the city.

Council members Marion Barry and Yvette M. Alexander were the only members to vote against the bill. Barry, who earlier this year supported the same-sex marriage, said he opposed the bill because his constituents reject gay marriage, the Washington Post reported. There are also numerous “ordinary” people who feel that this change is a negative thing and that gay marriage should not be legalized.
 “I do not think gay people should get married because it is just not right to me,” sophomore Vincent Galeano said.  “I simply disagree with it.”

If the bill becomes law, The District will join several states such as New Hampshire, Connecticut, Vermont, Iowa, and Massachusetts in allowing same-sex marriage to be legalized. New Hampshire will be issuing them in January.

Some students are pleased with the passed bill and agree with the bill being passed across the country.

“I know that for some people they believe it is against their religion, but I think it is about mutual respect,” senior Christina Sukhu said.