DC Voters: Let Us Vote on Marriage

Thomas Messner / June 22, 2009

Last Wednesday, several DC voters filed a lawsuit (PDF) asking the DC Superior Court to allow DC residents to vote on whether same-sex marriages from other jurisdictions should be recognized in the District. The lawsuit followed a ruling from the DC Board of Elections and Ethics that DC residents should not be allowed to vote on whether same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions should be recognized in DC.

In May, the DC Council passed legislation that would recognize same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions. Individuals who support marriage as the union of husband and wife argued that the DC Council should have sought more public input before pushing through such controversial legislation. To give DC residents a greater say in the marriage policy of the District, several DC voters proposed that the District hold a referendum on the question and allow DC residents to vote. (more…)