Witnesses spar over marriage at election board hearing

Washington Blade
June 11, 2009
More than 100 people packed a D.C. Board of Elections & Ethics hearing room Wednesday as supporters and opponents of marriage equality presented opposing arguments regarding the validity of a proposed referendum to overturn the D.C. Jury & Marriage Amendment Act of 2009. The act, among other things, would allow the city to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states and countries. At issue, according to election board chair Errol Arthur, is whether the proposed referendum would cover one or more of eight restricted subject areas that are barred from going before the voters, including a proposal to raise or lower taxes or a proposal that would "unlawfully discriminate" under the D.C. Human Rights Act. [Link]