Couples lined on March 9, 2010 for the first same-sex marriages performed in the nation's capital, just a week after the first marriage licenses in DC were issued to gay and lesbian couples.
The issue of gay marriage in Washington D.C. saw much activity leading up to the historic decision. This is the timetable of events that led up to bill:
12/19/09: Mayor Adrian M. Fenty signed the marriage bill into law. The legislation goes before Congress for a short review process.
12/15/09: In an 11 to 2 vote, the Washington D.C. Council gave final approval to the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Equality Amendment Act of 2009, legalizing same-sex marriage in the district.
6/15/09: The D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics rejected an effort to hold a referendum on whether Washington should recognize same-sex marriages performed elsewhere. The move is a victory for gay rights advocates. If Congress, which has final say over laws approved in Washington D.C., doesn't weigh in on the city council vote in favor of same-sex marriages granted outside of the District by July of 2009 the measure will become law.
4/7/09: The 13-member D.C. Council moved to recognize the marriages of same-sex couples legally wed outside of the District. The decision in our nation's capital came on the same day as Vermont legislators voted in favor of same-sex marriage.
"The vote by the members of the DC City Council to recognize marriages performed in other jurisdictions as marriages in DC is a positive step forward," said Michael Crawford, Chair of DC for Marriage. "It recognizes that all people including LGBT people should receive the basic rights and responsibilities that come with marriage. This step forward will help to educate DC residents about why marriage is so important to same-sex families as it is to opposite-sex families."
The issue of gay marriage in Washington D.C. saw much activity leading up to the historic decision. This is the timetable of events that led up to bill:
12/19/09: Mayor Adrian M. Fenty signed the marriage bill into law. The legislation goes before Congress for a short review process.
12/15/09: In an 11 to 2 vote, the Washington D.C. Council gave final approval to the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Equality Amendment Act of 2009, legalizing same-sex marriage in the district.
6/15/09: The D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics rejected an effort to hold a referendum on whether Washington should recognize same-sex marriages performed elsewhere. The move is a victory for gay rights advocates. If Congress, which has final say over laws approved in Washington D.C., doesn't weigh in on the city council vote in favor of same-sex marriages granted outside of the District by July of 2009 the measure will become law.
4/7/09: The 13-member D.C. Council moved to recognize the marriages of same-sex couples legally wed outside of the District. The decision in our nation's capital came on the same day as Vermont legislators voted in favor of same-sex marriage.
"The vote by the members of the DC City Council to recognize marriages performed in other jurisdictions as marriages in DC is a positive step forward," said Michael Crawford, Chair of DC for Marriage. "It recognizes that all people including LGBT people should receive the basic rights and responsibilities that come with marriage. This step forward will help to educate DC residents about why marriage is so important to same-sex families as it is to opposite-sex families."
