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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2009

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DC Council Introduces Gay Marriage Bill

Measure looks nearly certain to become law

Posted Oct 6, 09 5:45 PM CDT|

(AP) – Members of the City Council in Washington, DC, introduced a measure today to allow gay marriage, and even opponents acknowledged it seems almost unstoppable. Assuming it goes through, DC—which already recognizes same-sex marriages performed elsewhere—will join the ranks of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, and, starting next year, New Hampshire. The law is expected to be in place by the end of the year.

The only potential hitch: Congress must give final approval, and some members may try to make political hay of the issue ahead of the midterm elections next year. It would be unusual for Congress to block the issue, however, and even opponents acknowledged the bill was likely to become law.

Ed Grandis, left, and Juan D. Rondon, hold hands after a bill allowing same-sex marriage in the District of Columbia was introduced at a city council meeting in Washington, on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009. (Jacquelyn Martin)

Patricia Hawkins, 69, a psychologist who works in Washington, wipes a tear as a bill allowing same-sex marriage in the District of Columbia is introduced at a city council meeting in Washington, on Tuesday,... (Jacquelyn Martin)

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39 comments

VIEWING:

godawgs
Oct 6, 09 5:48 PM CDT

Does congress have to give final approval because DC isn't a state? Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Fondue
Oct 6, 09 8:14 PM CDT

Learn you self: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington,_D.C.#Government

| 0 minutes ago

rajanKazhmin
Oct 6, 09 5:49 PM CDT

History will judge those against gay rights harshly. There are no valid arguments against the rights of a homosexual couple to marry. Only lies, fear, and cherry picked bible verses. Reply

+13

| 0 minutes ago

jamerican
Oct 6, 09 5:49 PM CDT

Just more prostitute politicians selling our country's morality down the toilet for a vote. Reply

-13

IN RESPONSE:

rajanKazhmin
Oct 6, 09 5:52 PM CDT

You're right, prostitution should be legal as well.

+12

IN RESPONSE:

doingtherightthing
Oct 6, 09 7:31 PM CDT

rajankazhmin....the moral majority say no to gay marriage. Whether you like it or not, those in the know will continue to resist the leftwing trolls over gay marriage. This is a insult to GOD, who established marriage in Gen 2:24. Your arugement is with GOD, not with me and the rest of us who believe in the word of the bible. I'll leave you with this: It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living GOD (Heb 10:31). You test Him; and your going to have trouble in your life. That you can count on!

-9

IN RESPONSE:

rajanKazhmin
Oct 6, 09 7:55 PM CDT

doingtherightthing: Everything about your argument is a failure. Even if your god was real, why should you do anything to stop gay marriage? Can't you just rest easy "knowing" they will burn in hell and let them live their lives? On top of that, Jesus was gay.

IN RESPONSE:

Vyridian
Oct 6, 09 8:34 PM CDT

Keep your imaginary friends out of my government, please. I want my laws based on logic and reason, not fairy tales and superstition. Our Founding Fathers gave us a government that allows *freedom* of religion, not more persecution and ruling by it! Anyone who mixes religion with American politics is about as American as Al Qaeda. If you want to live in a theocracy there are plenty of hot deserts for you to move to where the women dress in sacks and have no legal recourse when they are raped. Morals exist apart from religion, not because of it. Not allowing gay people the same happiness heterosexuals have shows only your bigotry and intolerance and you are using religion to justify it.

IN RESPONSE:

Snarfeh
Oct 6, 09 10:03 PM CDT

Non christian doingthehypethang, nobody gives a fuck what the immoral majority does anymore. Anyone can get married by simply gathering some friends, saying a few words, jumping over a chair and swearing fealty to each for life, whatEVER. Gays ALREADY get married. We have been getting married for centuries, numb nut. What we have NOT been getting are the legal benefits provided by the state and the federal government which is discrimination. Anyone can get married anyway, anywhere, anytime and there ain't a damn thing you fake christians can do about it. The legal status IS COMING and I hate it for ya....

IN RESPONSE:

Cprizzle
Oct 7, 09 12:57 AM CDT

You're just another loser who doesn't accept people different from yourself. Grow up, or like rajankazhim said, history is going to look back at you like someone who criticized freeing slaves. It's pure ignorance to deny gays their rights.

| 0 minutes ago

Jayster999
Oct 6, 09 5:50 PM CDT

Barney (the wank) Frank should be pleased. Now he can marry that young boy he's been grooming. Reply

-8

IN RESPONSE:

rajanKazhmin
Oct 6, 09 5:51 PM CDT

As long as he's 18 who cares?

IN RESPONSE:

Jayster999
Oct 6, 09 5:53 PM CDT

His parents, for starters.

-10

IN RESPONSE:

rajanKazhmin
Oct 6, 09 5:57 PM CDT

This might blow your mind, but there are many parents out there that are OK with their kids being gay. Why? Because there is nothing wrong with it.

+10

IN RESPONSE:

Jayster999
Oct 6, 09 6:15 PM CDT

There is plenty wrong with it. Only a warped mind would think otherwise.

-9

IN RESPONSE:

rajanKazhmin
Oct 6, 09 6:18 PM CDT

...And furthermore, even if the parents are against it a person can make their own decisions in life. In your mind it is right to outlaw something because it makes parents uncomfortable? really? One persons mild mental distress outweighs another persons fundamental rights? WTF. Your arguments on this issue are failures. Don't even bother dragging the bible into it. Auto-Fail.

IN RESPONSE:

Robert_Dada
Oct 6, 09 6:21 PM CDT

Jayster, jayster, jayster...it's times like these that I really wish there was a god so I could feel so secure that you will be burning in Hell's lake of fire.

IN RESPONSE:

rajanKazhmin
Oct 6, 09 6:22 PM CDT

You really have a wonderful way of illustrating the sheer stupidity of those who stand against gay rights. You are a bigot, plain and simple.

IN RESPONSE:

reasonreason
Oct 6, 09 6:47 PM CDT

ad hominem attacks weaken any valid point you might have

IN RESPONSE:

rajanKazhmin
Oct 6, 09 6:54 PM CDT

Ah, you're right... That setup was perfect though.

IN RESPONSE:

Snarfeh
Oct 6, 09 10:05 PM CDT

Republicans are against gay marriage because they fear their secretgay lovers will ask for their hands in marriage....its SO much more fun and titillating to keep it in the closet. Once taken out, the thrill is gone for them.

IN RESPONSE:

RobN
Oct 6, 09 11:08 PM CDT

Don't want to upset you too much Snarfeh, but Prop 8 passed in California with overwhelming support from Democratic Hispanics and Democratic Blacks, while as a conservative, I voted no. Most of my conservative friends voted no. Minority Democrats voted yes. I realize it's easier to blame Reps for everything, but a little accuracy might help the cause.

IN RESPONSE:

proud_prude
Oct 7, 09 12:23 AM CDT

@reasonreason: I'm not so sure it's an ad hominem attack to call someone a "bigot" if it's true. Usually we admire someone for "calling a spade a spade." Not always, of course, but that's another discussion. Now, I guess I have to go look up the definition of bigot.

IN RESPONSE:

Snarfeh
Oct 7, 09 5:08 PM CDT

@RobiN - You're not upsetting me at all. You make a very valid point. It's just more fun to mock and make fun of republicans. However, in acknowledgment of your point, I will make an addendum to my original post: "Republicans and other pseudo christians who may even be Democrats...." How's that?

| 0 minutes ago

rajanKazhmin
Oct 6, 09 6:01 PM CDT

Give yourself another thumbs up for intolerance. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

armywife
Oct 6, 09 6:58 PM CDT

but remember, in his own words, jayster is a military veteran, which means he took a solemn oath to uphold the constitution, and he's claims that he is one of the few left who really understand what freedom means - which makes his condemnation of gay people all the more appalling. jayster, there is no difference between saying "gay people do not qualify for equal rights in america because their sexual practices are immoral" and saying that "black people or women dont deserve equal rights because the bible says they are inferior to white men" which is what the proponents of slavery and anti-suffrage said. perhaps god does hate gays are they are going to hell. that really doesnt matter, because this is america and we, unlike the middle eastern theocracies we are fighting against, do not make laws based on the bible. we make laws to punish people when they engage in action that is harmful to another citizen, like theft or murder or rape. a gay person having gay sex might make you ill, but it doesnt harm you or your property, so suck it up. it makes me ill to watch people like you make a mockery of true american principles and then call yourselves the real patriots, but i'm not out there trying to pass an amendment make being a hypocritical @sshole illegal. sometimes, as americans, and as veterans, we have to respect and defend the rights of people we find distasteful, otherwise, how can we expect anyone else to respect and defend our rights? i would like to think that, if you are the patriotic veteran you say you are, you'd be able to see that. you dont have to like the idea of gay sex, you dont have to have gay sex, but you shouldnt be able to deny another american citizen the right to equal rights and treatment under the law simply because that person's sexual practices make you feel icky. you can see that, cant you? Reply

IN RESPONSE:

proud_prude
Oct 7, 09 12:30 AM CDT

Goddammit, I've just fallen head over heels in love with you, armywife. I've been resisting your charms for some time now, but that eloquent All-American soliloquy in defense of the tolerance our founders prized above all things finally did it for me. I'm head over heels in love. And you can tell your husband, cuz it's not even slightly kinky and it's forever and totally platonic. You have a beautiful mind, dear lady. God bless you and yours.

| 0 minutes ago

Sacrifice
Oct 6, 09 6:58 PM CDT

This would be a lot easier if the government stops handing out marriage licenses and start issuing civil unions. Civil unions for all! Works for me. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Jayster999
Oct 6, 09 7:07 PM CDT

Hey, I don't hate gays. I don't advocate their harm or harassment. I don't think they should be allowed to marry or adopt. It is not a normal environment: two dads don't make a mom, and vice-versa. God does not condone homosexuality--sorry, not my rules. Reply

-7

IN RESPONSE:

rajanKazhmin
Oct 6, 09 7:43 PM CDT

Ha, thank you. You have perfectly backed up my original argument. You have nothing except the bible to back up your bigotry. Newsflash, not everyone believes in your crazy god. Why should your particular religion set the laws in this country? I know people that grew up with same sex parents. Will it make your mind explode to know they are well adjusted and successful people? You can believe in whatever you want, but never should your belief in the supernatural interfere with the lives of others.

IN RESPONSE:

armywife
Oct 6, 09 9:24 PM CDT

so, what you're saying jayser is that you dont hate gays, you just dont think they should be equal citizens, because "god" doesnt like gays. so, it's okay in your book for america to be a theocracy as long as we're a christian theocracy, is that it? is that your idea of america? cause that is effed up, my friend.

IN RESPONSE:

Jayster999
Oct 6, 09 9:48 PM CDT

Two people raising a child in an environment of sin and perversion is "effed up." America is not a theocracy. The majority of people here tend to agree with me, when the balance tips and evil becomes the norm, we will be ripe for destruction.

-6

IN RESPONSE:

proud_prude
Oct 7, 09 12:32 AM CDT

Sorry, not my god.

IN RESPONSE:

alkaseltzersammich
Oct 7, 09 12:51 AM CDT

Based on looking at your Newser profile, Jayster, it would appear that just about everyone disagrees with you.

IN RESPONSE:

kokuaguy
Oct 7, 09 1:27 AM CDT

Jayster, it's your old nemesis making a special appearance here to engage you in a discussion I first started having with people when I worked for the Hawaii legislature in 1997 as the debate raged about whether or not to overturn the then first in the nation decision by a state supreme court in favor of "same gender marriage." Here's my question to you: Now, imagine that there is an orphanage full of neglected and malnourished children in, let's say Armenia or India or Liberia. (lets make them all little girls who happen to be HIV positive.) Now, imagine that Elton John and his partner want to adopt one of those poor waifs and take her to England where she will live in a wonderful home and receive the finest of educations and upbringings, all the time under the watchful eye of a Mary Poppins type nanny of unquestionable repute. Now I ask you, Jayster, if you had the power to say yea or nay in this case, what would your decision be? Would Sir Elton and his partner David Furnish be allowed to become parents? And if not, do you really think that's what Jesus would do?

IN RESPONSE:

kyleleitch
Oct 7, 09 4:09 PM CDT

There is plenty of legit research out there that shows that children who grow up in a two-father or two-mother household are more tolerant and open-minded that many children who grow up in a 'traditional' home. Why don't you try educating yourself, Jayster?

| 0 minutes ago

Fondue
Oct 6, 09 8:16 PM CDT

Bunch of rightwingers in here. LOL Reply

| 0 minutes ago

kansas1946
Oct 6, 09 8:59 PM CDT

Another step towards equality for gay families. Very good D.C. :o) Reply

| 0 minutes ago

cognitivefilter
Oct 7, 09 2:17 AM CDT

high five!.......no homo Reply

| 0 minutes ago

View all 39 comments »

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