Same-sex marriage bill in DC appears unstoppable

[lord_feldon]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091006/...s_gay_marriage

A bill that would allow same-sex couples to marry in the nation's capital was introduced Tuesday, a measure that even opponents acknowledged seems almost unstoppable.

The bill was nearly certain to pass the D.C. city council, but whether it becomes law is more complicated because Congress gets an opportunity to review D.C. legislation before it takes effect. Still, even challengers in Congress acknowledged the bill was likely to become law.

[MapleLeaf]

Dominoes!!

[lord_feldon]

U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz, a Republican from Utah who said he would work to defeat the new bill...

http://www.jasonforcongress.com/limited-government

I believe many programs currently run by the federal government – such as the Department of Education - should be left to state and local governments. I will seek to restrict the role of the federal government.

Local control for people who agree with me! Hooray!

[MidgardDragon]

Yay! That's like, one inch closer to the Bible belt, right? :P Not the buckle, mind, but here on the eastern strap. Looking forward to see legislations like this spread across the map until it reads nothing but "gay".

[Silkenray]

This is fabulous news.

(honestly, after having lived in a country with Civil Unions for 4 years, and seen the utterly negligible effect it has had on anybody who wasn't actually gay and entering into one, I am ashamed that my country hasn't yet followed suit - from coast to coast.)

[woodness03]

Originally Posted by Silkenray

This is fabulous news.

(honestly, after having lived in a country with Civil Unions for 4 years, and seen the utterly negligible effect it has had on anybody who wasn't actually gay and entering into one, I am ashamed that my country hasn't yet followed suit - from coast to coast.)

I've lived in a state where it is legal, not just civil unions, but marriage. The state hasn't imploded and life has gone on all the same. What is still sad is that the gay couples who are legally married do not receive any federal benefits because our congress is too afraid to actually make a decision about it.

[Mr. Billion]

One downside: This may help galvanize the conservative base. Every time it seems like gay people might get to be treated like people, some folks just get all riled up. So this good news for progress might also be good news for the Republican party.

I expect to hear this guy's views on the subject repeated by a lot of other people:

http://www.focusonthefamily.com/abou...es_dobson.aspx

[Miki Fantastico]

This makes me want to write a "you rock" letter to somebody, but aside from having no idea where to send it, I have a feeling that a letter from someone who isn't in the constituency or even the same country wouldn't be looked at. (If anyone thinks differently, I'd even be willing to pay the airmail postage...)

[Mr. Billion]

David Catania, the openly gay council member who introduced the bill, probably really would appreciate such a letter. Here's his contact info:

Address:
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 110
Washington
DC
20004

Telephone: 202-724-7772
Fax: 202-724-8087