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Loading ...DC addresses domestic partnerships, religious protections in gay marriage bill
From a press release:
(Washington, D.C.) Proponents and supporters, including D.C. religious leaders, will attend the scheduled mark-up of the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Equality Amendment Act of 2009 at 2 p.m. Tuesday.
The Committee on Public Safety and the Judiciary, chaired by Councilmember Phil Mendelson, will review the text of the current bill for changes and amendments stemming from the 269 testimonies submitted during public hearings on Oct. 26 and Nov. 2.Over 80% of those who testified at the council hearing testified in support of marriage equality.
The committee is expected to debate sections of the bill that address D.C.’s current domestic partnership law and the impact of the legislation on religious institutions in the District. The final bill, including mark-up, is expected to be sent to the full committee for a vote following the meeting.
“Residents of the District of Columbia are eager for our friends and neighbors to gain full and equal recognition under law through the passage of the Freedom and Civil Marriage Equality Amendment Act of 2009,” said Aisha Mills, member of the board for the Campaign for All D.C. Families.
“We anticipate that this mark-up will emphasize the protections allotted to domestic partners and protect the religious freedoms of District residents,” Mills said.
When you define marriage as a union between a man and a woman within the consitution – you are recking and vandalizing our own countries Consitution.
I know what 10 groups of people “harms” marriage and who “continually vandalizes” marriages:
(1) Republicans
(2) Bigots and/or Zelots
(3) Rednecks
(4) Southerners
(5) Hypocrites [such as Gary Lindsay]
(6) Hillary Clinton and her lobbyists
(7) Public Sexual Conduct in Bathroom Airports [that means you Larry Craig]
(8) Barack Obama and other African Americans
(9) No hopers and do-gooders out there claiming “to save marriage is to define it [marriage] as one man and one woman”
(10) Churches, the religious nutcases, clergy and priests who molest and kill children.
Gary Lindsay needs a history lesson on DPs and a lesson on his self-bigotry.
I am disturbed by the “DPs harm marriage” comment from Gary Lindsay, well I bet you were the one of the many people who signed the petition to put R-71 on the ballot in WA, luckely it passed by 51 percent!!!
I fought very hard in years for basic DPs for couples (both gay and straight) who DO NOT WISH TO MARRY. Many of whom have children and deserve to be recognised you stupid gay-basher [get of our website]!!!
I bet Gary Lindsay is a Republican supporter no doubt!!!
The marriage debate underscores the need for DC statehood. The District can pass marriage equality, but Congress can override it. I wonder if our ‘ally’ in the White House will truly support us on this one….
The key word in the debate: civil. Civil marriage rights have NOTHING to do with any religious institution or religious idea(l) of marriage. Yeah for precise language!
End domestic partnership, and grant full marriage equality.
DPs harm marriage. As Jonathan Rauch points out: if you want the benefits of marriage, then get married.
Keep domestic partnerships as it is and allow gay marriages from 2010 in DC please!!!!