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DC: NOM Sponsored City Council Candidate Loses With Just 20% of the Vote

Wednesday, September 15th, 2010

In the District of Columbia, NOM lost big yesterday. The homophobic organization’s candidate for DC City Council in Ward 5, Delano Hunter, got thumped. Incumbent Harry Thomas Jr. defeated Hunter by a 3 to 1 margin. Here is the latest breakdown courtesy of DCist:

Ward 5 Council
Harry Thomas – 62.05%
Delano Hunter – 20.07%
Kenyan McDuffie – 13.77%

As we’ve reported, NOM spent big on this race. And, Hunter secured the endorsement of the Washington Post in an editorial that told us to ignore his homophobia.

Full Story from America Blog

Click here for gay marriage resources in Washington, DC.

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Tags: dc, delano hunter, district of columbia, Gay Marriage, marriage equality, national organization for marriage, nom, same sex marriage, washington dc

DC: What Happens to Marriage Equality if GOP Gains Control of Congress?

Monday, September 13th, 2010

If the Republican Party regains control of Congress on Nov. 2, already-stalled pro-gay legislation would be dead — at least barring an uncharacteristically bold lame-duck action by Democrats. On the bright side, the prospects are fairly good for the District of Columbia to defend its marriage-equality law.

LGBT activists in D.C. have struggled with our congressional overlords for decades. Congress used a legislative veto against our sodomy law repeal in 1981, and an appropriations rider against our domestic partnership law in 1992. After Congress stopped obstructing domestic partnerships in 2001, D.C. passed more than a dozen bills incrementally strengthening that law. Our final step to full marriage equality last year was taken with one eye firmly fixed on Capitol Hill.

This battle testing leaves us ready, in the event of a GOP congressional takeover, to fight opponents like Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), who failed to get even a majority of House Republicans to co-sponsor the D.C. Defense of Marriage Act in the 111th Congress.

Full Story from

Click here for gay marriage resources.

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Tags: congress, d.c., district of columbia, Gay Marriage, gop, marriage equality, republicans, same sex marriage, washington dc

DC: NOM Buses in Supporters to Reach 200 at Final Rally

Sunday, August 15th, 2010

The crowd gathered at the National Organization for Marriage’s rally on the lawn near the U.S. Capitol on Sunday, Aug. 15, grew to about 200 people – mostly because of several buses that arrived carrying supporters of NOM’s message.

Before the arrival of the buses, however, the crowd at NOM’s final stop on its “Summer of Marriage” tour consisted of a mix of those supporting NOM’s rally, same-sex marriage activists countering the rally with protest signs and members of the media.

A little more than a mile away, however, the crowd was larger and unified at The Big Commit – the District’s event organized to counter NOM’s tour stop.

Full Story from Metro Weekly

Click here for gay marriage resources in Washington, DC.

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Tags: counterprotest, district of columbia, Gay Marriage, marriage equality, national organization for marriage, nom, rally, same sex marriage, washington dc

Gay Marriage Events Today/Tomorrow

Sunday, August 15th, 2010

(Full Events List & Details: http://www.purpleunions.com/mn/gay-marriage-events-list.html):

–USA, CA, Beverly Hills: 08/15, LA Equal Roots Meeting, 8106 Santa Monica Blvd, 7:30-9:30 PM.
–USA, CA, Culver City: 08/07-08/28, Love Conquers All: Art for Equality, Thinkspace.
–USA, DC, Washington: 08/15, The Big Commit – NOM Counter Protest, Freedom Plaza, 2-4 PM.
–USA, DC, Washington: 08/15, NOM Anti Gay Marriage Tour, U.S. Capitol Steps or Freedom Pl, 2-3 PM.

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Tags: beverly hills, counterprotest, district of columbia, events, Gay Marriage, marriage equality, national organization for marriage, nom, rally, same sex marriage, washington dc

Gay Marriage Events Today/Tomorrow

Saturday, August 14th, 2010

(Full Events List & Details: http://www.purpleunions.com/mn/gay-marriage-events-list.html):

–USA, CA, Beverly Hills: 08/15, LA Equal Roots Meeting, 8106 Santa Monica Blvd, 7:30-9:30 PM.
–USA, CA, Culver City: 08/07-08/28, Love Conquers All: Art for Equality, Thinkspace.
–USA, CA, Irvine: 08/14, OC Pride w/EQCA, Hidden Valley Private Park, 12-10 PM.
–USA, CA, Los Angeles: 08/14, 2010 Los Angeles Equality Awards, Hyatt Regency Century Plaza.
–USA, CA, Palm Springs: 08/14, Equality Happy Hour, Hamburger Mary’s, 4-7 PM.
–USA, DC, Washington: 08/15, The Big Commit – NOM Counter Protest, Freedom Plaza, 2-4 PM.
–USA, DC, Washington: 08/15, NOM Anti Gay Marriage Tour, U.S. Capitol Steps or Freedom Pl, 2-3 PM.
–USA, IA, Decorah: 08/01-08/14, Achieving Marriage Equality in the Heartland, Dahl Ctrl Union, Luther Coll Cam.
–USA, MA, Boston: 08/14, Phone Bank for Equality, 262 Washington St, 12-5 PM.

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Tags: beverly hills, dc, district of columbia, events, Gay Marriage, los angeles, marriage equality, palm springs, same sex marriage, washington dc

DC: What’s Next for Gay Marriage Law

Monday, July 26th, 2010

In yet another important win for marriage equality, the District of Columbia’s highest court ruled July 15 that the city government acted lawfully when it rejected a local minister attempt to place a referendum before voters that sought to roll back equal marriage rights for gay couples in the nation’s capital.

The ruling leaves intact marriage equality legislation, in effect in the District City Council since early March. But the ruling may not be the end of the battle for Washington, D.C. The U.S. Supreme Court and Congress may have the final word.

There were two questions before the D.C. Court of Appeals, which is the equivalent of a state supreme court. First, whether the proposed ballot measure was discriminatory or not, and second, whether the D.C. City Council had the authority to restrict a ballot initiative that violated a provision of city’s Human Rights Act, which bans discrimination based on the basis of sexual orientation and other categories.

Full Story from Keen News Service

Click here for gay marriage resources in Washington, DC.

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Tags: appeal, challenge, congress, d.c., dc, district of columbia, Gay Marriage, law, marriage equality, same sex marriage, supreme court, washington dc

DC: Appeals Court Rejects Effort to Put Gay Marriage to a Public Vote

Friday, July 16th, 2010

Same-sex-marriage opponents in Washington, D.C., vowed to appeal to the nation’s highest court after an appeals court Thursday upheld a city law allowing the unions and rejecting an effort by opponents to put the issue before voters.

“We will take it to the Supreme Court,” said Bishop Harry R. Jackson Jr., pastor at Hope Christian Church in Beltsville, Md., who led a coalition of same-sex-marriage opponents that brought the court challenge.

In a 5-4 decision, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with a Superior Court ruling in January and an earlier ruling by the city’s Board of Elections and Ethics that said a referendum on same-sex marriage would violate the city’s Human Rights Act.

Full Story from the Washington Times

Click here for gay marriage resources in Washington, DC.

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Tags: appeals court, district of columbia, Gay Marriage, marriage equality, public vote, ruling, same sex marriage, washington dc

DC: African American Church Split Over Gay Marriage

Thursday, June 24th, 2010

Years before the nation’s capital legalized same-sex marriage in March, one church in Washington, D.C., opened its doors to gay couples as part of its mission to establish an “inclusive body of Biblical believers.”

Pastors Christine and Dennis Wiley performed a 2007 commitment ceremony at their altar. That action split the historically black church, prompting half of the congregation to leave.

Yvonne Moore not only left Covenant Baptist, where she had worshipped for nearly 40 years: she filed a lawsuit for her weekly tithes because, as she said, “They didn’t respect the members enough to listen to us.”

Full Story from CNN

Click here for gay marriage resources in Washington, DC.

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Tags: african american church, d.c., district of columbia, Gay Marriage, marriage equality, same sex marriage, washington dc

DC: Gay/Lesbian Weddings Boost Licenses to New High

Sunday, May 16th, 2010

In the first three months of 2010, the court processed 376 applications. Since March 3 – when gay marriage became legal in the District – the marriage license office has received 2,082 applications. Based on the early numbers, the District is on target to issue four times as many marriage licenses this year as they did in 2009.

Figures collected by WTOP News about Washington’s spike in marriage applications and licenses, due primarily to the fact that DC is the first region in the area to offer legalized marriage to lesbian and gay couples.

WTOP estimates that if licenses were to continue at their increased pace, that the District could see a quadupling over last year’s figures. An extra bonus for the District is an increase in revenue for victims of violent crimes, since marriage license fees go to the Court’s Crime Victim’s Compensation Fund. (WTOP)

Full Story from Metro Weekly

Click here for gay marriage resources in Washington, DC.

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Tags: d.c., district of columbia, Gay Marriage, marriage equality, marriage licenses, same sex marriage, washington dc

DC: Marriage Licenses Increase Fourfold After Gay Marriage Approved

Thursday, May 13th, 2010

Life is good at home in Columbia with the Collins-McCarthy family. They have an 18-month-old son named Keegan. On Saturday, Kelly Collins and Tricia McCarthy will be married on a boat on the Potomac River.

“It’s something we’ve just always dreamt about. You know, we’ve been together nine years and we just have really looked forward to this day for a long time and we’re just really excited to be able to share it with our friends and family,” said Collins.

The courts in D.C. processed only 3,096 applications for marriage licenses all last year. Since the first legal same-sex weddings in the District back on March 9, 2,094 couples have applied to get married in the nation’s capitol.

Full Story from MyFoxDC

Click here for gay marriage resources in Washington, DC.

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Tags: d.c., dc, district of columbia, Gay Marriage, increase, marriage equality, marriage licenses, same sex marriage, washington dc