D.C. Same-Sex Couples Headed for Equality

Same-sex couples in the District are getting closer to marriage equality. Saturday, July 4, 2009 THE DISTRICT'S recognition of same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions took a big step forward on Tuesday. The D.C. Superior Court ruled that the Board of Elections and Ethics "correctly concluded" that a proposed referendum against the law would violate the city's human rights law. That statute prohibits discrimination and denial of city services or benefits based on sexual orientation. Associate Judge Judith E. Retchin agreed that the proposed referendum would authorize or have the effect of authorizing discrimination. She sternly refused to grant injunctive relief. "At bottom, the harm about which Petitioners complain is not based on a denial of the right to referendum," Judge Retchin wrote. "Rather, they simply... [read full story]                    

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