The District of Columbia Court of Appeals today upheld the city's same-sex marriage laws, shooting down a suit that seeks a public referendum challenging the legislation.
The full court ruled 5 – 4 today in upholding the dismissal of a proposed initiative that sought to undo the Jury and Marriage Amendment Act of 2009, which amended city marriage laws to require the District to recognize same-sex marriages entered into other jurisdictions.
The D.C. Court of Appeals, the city’s highest local court, was unanimous in ruling that the proposed initiative would have the effect of authorizing discrimination that is prohibited by the city’s Human Rights Act. The court heard argument in May.
The 53-page majority opinion, which explores the allocation of power in the city, was written by Judge Phyllis Thompson. Click here for a copy of the court's opinion.
The D.C. Council later adopted the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Equality Amendment Act of 2009, which became law earlier this year. The law expanded the definition of marriage in the city to include same-sex couples.
Let's hope that this ruling, taken with the others recently, hearken a move towards equality for gay and lesbian couples, many of whom, like me, have been together for over a decade!
Posted by: Michael M. | July 15, 2010 at 05:13 PM
Lett 1000 Roses Bloom
Posted by: Riverman63 | July 15, 2010 at 05:08 PM
This is a nice step forward.
Posted by: Kykeith | July 15, 2010 at 05:08 PM