Washington, D.C The D.C. City Council voted for the first time as a full council in favor of the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Equality Amendment Act of 2009 on Dec. 1. The bill, which will formally legalize same-sex marriage in the District of Columbia while protecting the rights of religious institutions to define marriage according to their own beliefs, will be voted on a final time later this month by the full council. The bill is expected to then be signed by Mayor Fenty and finally go to Capitol Hill for Congressional review before becoming law. Eleven of 13 council members voted in support of the bill.
“Today we celebrate the District of Columbia City Council’s initial vote to extend marriage equality to all residents,â┚¬Â said Aisha Mills, President of the Campaign for All D.C. Families. â┚¬Å”When passed this important law will provide gay and lesbian couples the securities and protections of marriage and create a stronger community for all of us.
The same-sex marriage advocacy group Standing on the Side of Love saw the vote as a major victory and believe marriage equality will become a reality in the very near future.
â┚¬Å”Today, DC City Councilmembers firmly stood on the side of love and cast their votes in favor of a more just, fair, and inclusive future for all Washingtonians,â┚¬Â said Standing on the Side of Love chairwoman Rev. Meg Riley. â┚¬Å”DC has sent a clear message that our gay and lesbian neighbors should be fully embraced and included and that their love should be celebrated alongside that of straight couples.â┚¬ÂÂ
The inclusion of same-sex marriage in Washington D.C. will provide couples protections that have long been needed, according to Mills.
“Denying marriage protections to loving and committed couples here in the district, and elsewhere, puts them and their families in harm’s way,â┚¬Â Mills said. â┚¬Å”I would to thank the Council and all of the advocates for their work on this first step toward ensuring that gay and lesbian couples are able to make a lifelong commitment to take care of and be responsible for one another.”
