Residents decry D.C. Council's same-sex marriage bill
Eboni Farmer/Blackcollegeview.com
Issue date: 11/15/09 Section: Politics
Same-sex marriages are not protected by the Human Rights Act of 1977, Evans said, and the city is obligated to allow citizens to vote on the issue.
Council members Mendelson (D-At Large), Brown (D-At Large), Muriel Bowser (D-Ward 4), Jim Graham (D-Ward 1), Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3), Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6) and Jack Evans, (D-Ward 2), told hearing attendees they supported the amendment.
Ten of the 13 council members have said that they will vote in favor of the amendment. Councilman Evans said he would not look kindly on opponents taking the matter to the Capitol if the bill is passed.
"We are a representative democracy, the council is elected to make the choices, and frankly, on this issue, I think we do represent the majority of our voters," Evans said. "We did not subject the 2007 school governance committee to a referendum. We did not subject the $700 million stadium to a referendum. We would not be governing effectively if every major issue was considered subject to a referendum."
Carolyn Steptoe of the Ward 5 Advisory Neighborhood Commission took exception to Evans' remarks. "Do not threaten the democracy of the citizens of the District of Columbia," she told him.
Steptoe said it is ironic that the same city fighting for equal representation through voting representatives in Congress is being denied the ability to vote on the amendment.
Proponents of bill, like Nick McCoy, said they believe the bill will pass. He has spent the past six months traveling to every corner of the District trying to educate and garner support for same-sex marriage. As a member of the gay community, McCoy said what is done today will impact the way the future is shaped.
"I understand that there is a lot of work to do to ensure that marriage equality not only becomes a matter of law but also does not become a decisive issue for our community," McCoy testified.
"'Opponents have attempted to frame marriage equality as an issue that only affects White affluent people or communities. It is absurd to try and spend my civil rights in this way. I am a lower, middle-class Black man and whole-heartedly support the marriage equality legislation that you put forth."
Council members Mendelson (D-At Large), Brown (D-At Large), Muriel Bowser (D-Ward 4), Jim Graham (D-Ward 1), Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3), Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6) and Jack Evans, (D-Ward 2), told hearing attendees they supported the amendment.
Ten of the 13 council members have said that they will vote in favor of the amendment. Councilman Evans said he would not look kindly on opponents taking the matter to the Capitol if the bill is passed.
"We are a representative democracy, the council is elected to make the choices, and frankly, on this issue, I think we do represent the majority of our voters," Evans said. "We did not subject the 2007 school governance committee to a referendum. We did not subject the $700 million stadium to a referendum. We would not be governing effectively if every major issue was considered subject to a referendum."
Carolyn Steptoe of the Ward 5 Advisory Neighborhood Commission took exception to Evans' remarks. "Do not threaten the democracy of the citizens of the District of Columbia," she told him.
Steptoe said it is ironic that the same city fighting for equal representation through voting representatives in Congress is being denied the ability to vote on the amendment.
Proponents of bill, like Nick McCoy, said they believe the bill will pass. He has spent the past six months traveling to every corner of the District trying to educate and garner support for same-sex marriage. As a member of the gay community, McCoy said what is done today will impact the way the future is shaped.
"I understand that there is a lot of work to do to ensure that marriage equality not only becomes a matter of law but also does not become a decisive issue for our community," McCoy testified.
"'Opponents have attempted to frame marriage equality as an issue that only affects White affluent people or communities. It is absurd to try and spend my civil rights in this way. I am a lower, middle-class Black man and whole-heartedly support the marriage equality legislation that you put forth."
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