Majorities polled in D.C. back Freedom to Marry

The Washington Post
February 7, 2010
A new poll shows District of Columbia residents are generally supportive of the progressive, activist social agenda being pursued by the D.C. Council, putting their stamp of approval on efforts by government leaders to enact policies like the freedom to marry while Democrats control Congress. [Link]

Utah Senator challenges District's freedom to marry law

The Washington Post
February 4, 2010
Sen. Robert F. Bennett (R-Utah) has introduced legislation that would require Washington, D.C. to put marriage equality up for a vote by residents. The legislation is similar to that introduced by Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) in the House. [Link]

Michael Crawford to join Freedom to Marry as Director of New Media

Metro Weekly

February 3, 2010
Michael Crawford, co-founder of DC for Marriage and chair of the organization during its fight for marriage equality in the District, announced last week that he would leave Washington for New York City, where he'll serve as director of new media for Freedom to Marry. Freedom to Marry Executive Director, Evan Wolfson said, ''I have worked with Michael on the fight to win marriage in [D.C.], and have really admired the work he's done, particularly in raising the visibility of African-American families and voices in support of marriage.'' [Link]

Who is funding the anti-gay efforts in D.C.?

GLAA Forum

February 2, 2010

Bob Summersgill reports on who is supplying the money for Rev. Harry Jackson's continuing court battles to deny marriage to gay couples in DC. It turns out there are four primary donors, all from well outside of the DC area: High Impact Leadership Coalition, Focus on the Family, National Organization for Marriage (NOM) and Family Research Council. [Link]

Utah Rep. Chaffetz Fighting Freedom to Marry in D.C.

Deseret News
January 27, 2010
Rep. Jason Chaffetz, (R-Utah) introduced legislation Wednesday that seeks to overturn the marriage equality law that was passed by the Washington, D.C. city council, but Democratic leaders will likely not allow it to come to a vote due to the discriminatory nature of banning the freedom to marry. [Link]

DC Board to Hear Freedom to Marry Bill Challenge

The Associated Press
January 27, 2010
The Board of Elections and Ethics in Washington D.C., will hold a hearing Wednesday on a measure that aims to overturn the district's marriage equality bill. [Link]

Hill insiders say Mass. election won’t derail D.C. marriage bill

dcagenda
January 20, 2010
Capitol Hill insiders say D.C.’s freedom to marry bill should not be adversely affected by Tuesday’s election of Massachusetts Republican Scott Brown to a U.S. Senate seat. Freedom to Marry's Michael Crawford said, "I think anti-marriage members of Congress may be emboldened by Scott Brown’s victory, but I think they are going to have a real challenge trying to prevent marriages from being performed in D.C." [Link]

D.C.'s freedom to marry legislation has couples contemplating moving

The Washington Post
January 16, 2010
The possibility of marriage equality in Washington DC has led many gay couples to weigh the battle for equal rights against quality-of-life issues, pitting a yard in Fairfax County against the chance to lock in inheritance and hospital visitation rights and the other benefits of marriage. [Link]

D.C. Judge Rules Against Marriage Referendum

The Washington Post
January 15, 2010
A Washington, D.C. Court judge ruled that opponents of marriage equality cannot call for a ballot initiative to ban marriage between same-sex couples because it would promote discrimination against gay and lesbian people. [Link]

D.C. Freedom to Marry Law Likely in Effect March 2

The Associated Press
January 14, 2010
The Washington, D.C. City Council has projected, after looking at Congress' calendar, that the District's marriage equality law would likely take effect on March 2, 2010. [Link]

Republican Congressional Leaders join fight against D.C. Marriage Equality

The Washington Post
January 7, 2010
Republican congressional leaders have joined local activists in a court fight to allow voters to decide whether marriage equality should be legal in the District. Supporters of the freedom to marry and some D.C. Republicans expressed outrage over the federal lawmakers' decision to become involved in the court challenge. [Link]

Marriage was the story of the year in 2009

dc agenda
January 4, 2010
After a stinging defeat in Maine, LGBT rights supporters closed the year with a victory in D.C., as the city legalized the freedom to marry. Supporters of LGBT rights faced many ups and downs in 2009, but no issue proved as tumultuous or gained as much attention as the ongoing fight over marriage rights. And as Freedom to Marry's Evan Wolfson points out, "There is no marriage without engagement, and there is no way to secure social justice without doing the work." [Link]

Same-sex couple looks to be first married in D.C.

South Carolina Now
January 4, 2010 17 years ago Craig Dean and his partner Patrick lived in Washington D.C., and they wanted to get married. So Dean proposed to Patrick and later that year, the couple tied the knot. But when the couple filed for a marriage license, they were denied. [Link]

Editorial: Allow marriage equality to stand in D.C.

Roanoke Times
December 28, 2009
The Virginia based paper writes, "The District of Columbia City Council has voted to allow same-sex marriage in the nation's capital, and the mayor has signed the law. Now it goes to Congress where lawmakers have the authority to override it. They should refrain from doing so." (Link)

A Long Road to Equality

Metro Weekly
December 24, 2009
Marriage equality for gays and lesbians is the latest chapter in the District's history of civil-rights achievements...As Evan Wolfson, the executive director of Freedom to Marry, said, ''It's really hard to overstate the resonance of the nation's capital voting for the freedom to marry and providing the opportunity for the country and the world see families helped and no one hurt when marriage discrimination ends.'' (Link)

DC asks judge to dismiss marriage equality lawsuit

The Associated Press
December 22, 2009
The District of Columbia is asking a judge to throw out a lawsuit by opponents of the freedom to marry. The plaintiffs, led by local pastor Bishop Harry Jackson, are seeking to get their proposed ban on marriage equality on the ballot after the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics turned them down. City lawyers filed a response Friday saying the ballot initiative would violate the city's Human Rights Act because it seeks to deny benefits on the basis of sexual orientation. [Link]

Utah Rep. Chaffetz and Family Differ on Marriage Equality

Deseret News (UT)
December 21, 2009
LGBT advocates are "flabbergasted" that Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, is leading a charge to block marriage equality in D.C., since his family has some close gay and progressive ties. [Link]

Marriages of Same-sex Couples a Boon for DC Wedding Businesses

The Tennessean
December 22, 2009
The freedom to marry in the District of Columbia is expected to be a financial boon for the city and for vendors who make much of their money on weddings but who have struggled during the recession. District officials surmise that the regional economy could reap up to $22 million over the next three years as couples from Washington and elsewhere take advantage of the new law. [link]

Mayor Signs DC Marriage Law

Gay City News
December 21, 2009
Washington, DC, City Council on December 15 adopted a marriage equality law which was then signed by Mayor Fenty on Thursday. The 11-2 vote in support of the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Equality Amendment Act of 2009 was identical to the first-round tally on December 1. Evan Wolfson, executive director of Freedom to Marry, the leading national marriage equality advocacy group, noted, “Five of seven African-American City Council members on the majority African-American Council supported the freedom to marry, and Mayor Adrian Fenty, also African-American, has promised to sign the bill.” [link]

Firms expect economic windfall from same-sex couples getting marriage in District

Washington Post
December 20, 2009
On Friday, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) signed legislation to end the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage in the District, a move that is expected to be a financial boon for the city and for vendors who make much of their money on weddings but who have struggled during the recession. District officials surmise that the regional economy could reap up to $22 million over the next three years as couples from Washington and elsewhere take advantage of the new law, and the Williams Institute, a think tank at the University of California at Los Angeles, estimates that the infusion could be $52 million. (Link)