By Kathleen Gilbert
October 7, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A same-sex “marriage” bill introduced to the District of Columbia city council Tuesday is expected to do away with the traditional definition of marriage in the city by the end of the year.
D.C. Council member David A. Catania introduced the widely-anticipated bill on Tuesday. Nine of the thirteen council members have co-sponsored the measure, and Mayor Adrian Fenty has also expressed his support.
“There is no question that we are about to embark on an exciting journey here in the District, fulfilling a more perfect understanding of human rights and equality, which has long been a trademark of our city that I'm proud to call home,” said Catania, one of two open homosexuals on the Council.
In order to block the bill, Congress would have to enact a joint resolution of disapproval, which would require President Obama's signature. While some conservative members of the House have expressed opposition to the bill, Congress is widely expected to fall short of the votes needed for such a maneuver.
In May, the Council voted almost unanimously to recognize same-sex “marriages” performed outside the district. When several Christian pastors submitted a request for the matter to be put to D.C. residents in a referendum vote, the Board of Elections and Ethics refused the request, saying that allowing a vote would violate the human rights of homosexuals under the D.C. Human Rights Act.
Advocates last month submitted a similar request pertaining to legalization of same-sex “marriage.”
In September, Catholic D.C. Archbishop Donald Wuerl issued a statement upholding the definition of marriage as only between a man and a woman.
“One challenge we see today is a lack of understanding by many people about what marriage is,” Wuerl said. “Marriage simply recognizes a relationship that is fundamental to nature: the complementarity of man and woman. That relationship is not a creation of church or civil law.”
Another measure seeking to dismantle the definition of marriage was introduced in the Illinois legislature last week by Sen. Heather Steans, D-Springfield. The Equal Marriage Act is a companion bill to state Rep. Greg Harris' bill in the House, which has stalled in committee since March.
Meanwhile, state Rep. David Reis is working to allow voters to decide on a constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union between one man and one woman.
“If we're going to continue to get pushed from the Left, we're going to have to put this measure into the state constitution so we can protect this fundamental value,” Reis said.
Same-sex “marriage” is currently legal in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, and Vermont, and New Hampshire will begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex partners in January 2010. Voters in Maine will consider the issue on the November ballot.
See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:
D.C. Ethics Board Rejects Referendum on Homosexual “Marriage” Advocated by Black Pastors
Voter Referenda on Same-Sex “Marriage” on Nov. Ballot in Washington and Maine
New Hampshire Legalizes Same-Sex “Marriage”: Governor Signs Bill