Washington D.C. same-sex marriage law goes into effect as planned

July 12, 2009

Washington, D.C.: The law recognizing same-sex marriages took effect last week in Washington, D.C. following the review by the United States Congress. Congress had 30 days to review the law but took no action in favor of or against the law. The D.C. Council approved the recognition bill in May. Also last week, council member David Catania announced that he planned to introduce a bill that would allow for same-sex marriages to be performed within the district.^[1]

Earlier this year some D.C. residents circulated petitions to take the issue to the November ballot and halt the implementation of the law until residents had a chance to vote, but in late June 2009 the D.C. Superior Court ruled against the proposition.

• On June 11, 2009 District Attorney General Peter Nickles released an opinion against a proposed referendum.^[2]
• On June 15, 2009 the Washington, D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics ruled against a proposed veto referendum because it violated the district's Human Rights Act.
• On June 17, 2009 referendum supporters petitioned the Superior Court to order the city elections board to allow a ballot measure.^[3]
• On June 30, 2009 a D.C. Superior Court judge dismissed a motion filed by same-sex marriage opponents to bring the issue to a vote and stall the implementation of the new law. The judge upheld the June 15 decision made by the District's Elections and Ethics Board.^[4]

See also

* Marriage and family on the ballot

• Washington D.C. elections board rejects marriage referendum

Footnotes