Anti-gay Republicans in Congress trample on DC’s home rule: 39 sign on to force referendum
”It is ironic that nearly all of the 39 representatives and senators that signed the brief have done everything in their power before to deny voting rights to D.C. residents…. I don’t know if they have had a sudden change of heart on D.C. voting rights or, more likely, they are just playing politics and once again meddling in home rule.”
Sultan Shakir of Human Rights Campaign remarking on the growing effort of US House and Senate member to block DC’s newly approved marriage equality act. That law, approved by the DC City Council and signed by Mayor Adrian Fenty in December 2009, will soon allow gay men and lesbians to be legally wed within Washington, DC. According to the Washington Post, several prominent DC Republicans had requested Congress to butt out of the District’s affairs, but were apparently ignored. The US Constitution gives full control of the Districts laws and finances whenever it sees fit. Washington, DC has 600,000 residents is not allowed at this time to have any voting US Representatives or Senators. (Washington Post)
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