DC Council Introduces Gay Marriage Bill

Crush at marriage bureau as same-sex couples wed

(NEWSER) - Wedded bliss descended on Washington, DC, today, as the District’s first same-sex couples were married. About 15 couples visited the marriage bureau in the first hour it was open to pick up their certificates, the Post reports, with one couple running upstairs to the office of a judge to quickly tie the knot. Another couple took their ceremony outside to the steps of the Superior Court. DC joins five states that already allow gays to marry. More»

Nation's capital sixth place in US to legalize gay marriage

(AP) - Same-sex couples can start applying for marriage licenses today in Washington, after the Supreme Court yesterday refused to block a law permitting gay marriage, and at least 16 couples were waiting at 7:15am inside the courthouse just blocks from the US Capitol that houses the marriage bureau. Sinjoyla Townsend, 41, and her partner of 12 years, Angelisa Young, 47, claimed the first spot in line just after 6am. "It's like waking up Christmas morning," Young said. More»

Church to pull plug on social programs if marriage bill passes

(NEWSER) - The Catholic Archdiocese of Washington has told the District of Columbia it will tear up its social service contracts to help the city's needy if it passes a proposed same-sex marriage bill next month. The bill wouldn't require the church to perform or provide space for gay marriages, but would require it to obey laws banning discrimination against gays and lesbians. Church officials say that's something they simply can't do, the Washington Post reports. More»

(NEWSER) - Gay-rights supporters in and outside of Washington are getting fed up with President Obama’s perceived inaction on their core issues, Politico reports. Obama has been unwilling to back gay marriage, and has yet to fulfill his campaign promise of repealing the Defense of Marriage Act, which bars federal recognition of the same. “Obama is out of step with his party,” one activist said. “He’s out of step with the next generation.” More»

Groups plan to start fundraising campaign on Father's Day

(NEWSER) - Up to 200 churches in Maine plan to pass a collection plate on Father's Day to raise funds to fight gay marriage. The state is holding a referendum on legalizing same-sex marriage in November, and the Protect Marriage Maine political action committee is stepping up efforts to raise funds and get support from evangelical leaders around the country, reports AP . More»