Same Se* Marriage Approved in Wash DC

[Marcia]

Well, it was a sad day when this happened a few days ago:

The D.C. Council voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to legalize same-sex marriage in the District, a key step in a process that could enable gay couples to marry in the nation's capital by the spring.

After months of debate, the council passed the legislation 11 to 2 after a lively discussion that elicited passionate statements from members about the historical significance of their action.

A second vote, scheduled in two weeks, is necessary for the measure to become law. The bill's sponsors said final passage is almost certain, although the bill could be tweaked. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) has said he will sign it.

The bill will also be subject to a 30-day congressional review period, but officials in both parties said it is unlikely that the Democratic majority in Congress will block the measure. The District would join New Hampshire, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont and Massachusetts in allowing same-sex marriage. It would be the first jurisdiction in the region to do so.
"This is a culmination of the entire gay rights movement," Richard J. Rosendall, a past president of the Gay and Lesbian Activist Alliance of Washington D.C., said after the vote. "We have spent many, many, years working toward this."

Link
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/01/AR2009120101265.html

In NY, gay marriage was set aside, which is good. But I think the vote above is a sign of the future. They will continue to fight for this and have become a powerful political force.

 

[annsni]

I was shocked that NY had it voted down since we're so liberal here! But I was thrilled that it was not only voted down but soundly!! Atleast NY could do SOMETHING right!

 

[KenH]

Well, the state of Arkansas will not be recognizing any homosexual "marriages" from the District of Columbia or any state.

 

[Marcia]

I was shocked that NY had it voted down since we're so liberal here! But I was thrilled that it was not only voted down but soundly!! Atleast NY could do SOMETHING right!

NPR discussed these votes today. Someone said that most people don't realize that the state gov't of NY is somewhat conservative, probably because people think of NY City, which is more liberal.

 

[Magnetic Poles]

NPR discussed these votes today. Someone said that most people don't realize that the state gov't of NY is somewhat conservative, probably because people think of NY City, which is more liberal.

Much like Chicago vs. Illinois.

 

[saturneptune]

Great news, now Barney can get married.

 

[rbell]

Great news, now Barney can get married.

The law won't help Barney. The ordinance is limited to adults...he'd rather marry "young."

That is why I wonder how much more God will put up with from such a sinful nation as us. The fact that we would elect such a sleazy piece of filth is quite telling.

I propose we put up new signs at all interstate entrances to DC:

Welcome to DC--the armpit of the US.
Don't forget to de-louse as you leave!

 

[saturneptune]

The law won't help Barney. The ordinance is limited to adults...he'd rather marry "young."

That is why I wonder how much more God will put up with from such a sinful nation as us. The fact that we would elect such a sleazy piece of filth is quite telling.

​

None of us knows when God runs out of patience. We do know these facts. He has blessed our nation more than any in history. We have far exceeded in wickedness some of the examples in the Old Testement. God dealt with some of them long before the point we are at today. How long will God put up with it? My guess is not much longer.

 

[rbell]

None of us knows when God runs out of patience. We do know these facts. He has blessed our nation more than any in history. We have far exceeded in wickedness some of the examples in the Old Testement. God dealt with some of them long before the point we are at today. How long will God put up with it? My guess is not much longer.

yep yep.....

 

[Aaron]

God has been judging this nation for decades if not longer. The government plunders its citizens, those who rule over us hate us, women are killing their children by the millions, families are scattered, the debt load is staggering . . .

The trouble is that the nation won't repent until it's too late.

 

[Revmitchell]

None of us knows when God runs out of patience. We do know these facts. He has blessed our nation more than any in history. We have far exceeded in wickedness some of the examples in the Old Testement. God dealt with some of them long before the point we are at today. How long will God put up with it? My guess is not much longer.

I am of the opinion that in the past God proactively punished the sinful. And now he leaves us to our own sin. That is punishment enough. There will come a judgment day but at that point we will all be standing before Him.

 

[saturneptune]

I am of the opinion that in the past God proactively punished the sinful. And now he leaves us to our own sin. That is punishment enough. There will come a judgment day but at that point we will all be standing before Him.

You could be right, and it goes along with what Aaron posted above. All I am saying, is that the average American who goes out to eat several times a week, movies or other entertainment all the time, and basically spends at Christmas whether he has the money or not, has not been affected by even the depths of this present recession, not like the soup lines of the Great Depression. Life just goes on like one continuous party. When there are no restaurants to go to, when the movies have gone out of business, when groceries do not have an abundent supply of food, then maybe something will capture the average person's attention. Today, some worrying about getting dental implants for their pet dog. One day, someone might wonder if that dog is going to be their next meal.

 

[Revmitchell]

You could be right, and it goes along with what Aaron posted above. All I am saying, is that the average American who goes out to eat several times a week, movies or other entertainment all the time, and basically spends at Christmas whether he has the money or not, has not been affected by even the depths of this present recession, not like the soup lines of the Great Depression. Life just goes on like one continuous party. When there are no restaurants to go to, when the movies have gone out of business, when groceries do not have an abundent supply of food, then maybe something will capture the average person's attention. Today, some worrying about getting dental implants for their pet dog. One day, someone might wonder if that dog is going to be their next meal.

I think the economic downturn is a good thing over all. It may help to refocus priorities if we can keep the marxists out of it.

 

[billwald]

US Constitution

Article IV - The States

Section 1 - Each State to Honor all others

Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State. And the Congress may by general Laws prescribe the Manner in which such Acts, Records and Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect thereof.

For all you who think the Constitution must be applied as written . . . seems to me that a marriage license is a record and judicial proceeding of every state. Only Congress can decide if a marriage license issued in one state can be ignored by another state.

It was never intended that anyone should be a citizen of Washington, DC. The District is under the direct control of Congress and I don't think the application of Article 4 section 1 to Article 1 sec 8 -the District- has been determined.

Article 1 sec 8

To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings; And

To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.

 

[saturneptune]

Article IV - The States

Section 1 - Each State to Honor all others

Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State. And the Congress may by general Laws prescribe the Manner in which such Acts, Records and Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect thereof.

For all you who think the Constitution must be applied as written . . . seems to me that a marriage license is a record and judicial proceeding of every state. Only Congress can decide if a marriage license issued in one state can be ignored by another state.

It was never intended that anyone should be a citizen of Washington, DC. The District is under the direct control of Congress and I don't think the application of Article 4 section 1 to Article 1 sec 8 -the District- has been determined.

Article 1 sec 8

To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings; And

To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.

First of all, your phrase "for all you who think the Constitution should be applied as written" tells me a lot about the mindset of the electorate, that is, most are either Democrats or Republicans which abandoned the Constitution decades ago.

Basically, I agree with what you are saying. The purpose of Washington DC was to govern the United States on the federal level, and any affairs within that juristiction were run by the Congress. This brings up several questions.

1. As you said, why are people citizens of Washington DC?
2. Why does Washington have a local government?
3. Why do people try to give Washington DC the same status as a state?
4. Why does Washington DC have votes in the electoral college? (except this is an amendment in itself)

I think people who live in Washington DC ought to be required to maintain citizenship in a surrounding state, with that as a temporary residence.

Although it is an amendment, electoral votes for Washington DC make no sense, since the votes are a sum of Senate and House representation, and they have none, except a delegate.

Washington DC has a local government, local police, fire, local courts, etc. They also levy taxes on its "citizens." Where does this authority come from?

Who set the lines between Washington DC local authority and federal authority since one does not exist?

 

[Marcia]

...Basically, I agree with what you are saying. The purpose of Washington DC was to govern the United States on the federal level, and any affairs within that juristiction were run by the Congress. This brings up several questions.

1. As you said, why are people citizens of Washington DC?
2. Why does Washington have a local government?
3. Why do people try to give Washington DC the same status as a state?
4. Why does Washington DC have votes in the electoral college? (except this is an amendment in itself)

I think people who live in Washington DC ought to be required to maintain citizenship in a surrounding state, with that as a temporary residence.

Although it is an amendment, electoral votes for Washington DC make no sense, since the votes are a sum of Senate and House representation, and they have none, except a delegate.

Washington DC has a local government, local police, fire, local courts, etc. They also levy taxes on its "citizens." Where does this authority come from?

Who set the lines between Washington DC local authority and federal authority since one does not exist?

I do not live in DC but I think that some laws were passed granting local government to DC at some point, not sure when. One condition of this is that any law passed by the City Council must go through a Congressional Review. Congress can veto or override it. However, I don't think they do this often.

Such is the case now with this law just passed, once it is voted on again (and it will surely pass a 2nd vote). Then it's up for Congress' review for 30 days until it becomes law. Today, an article on the Wash Post discussed the fact that DC GOP leaders are beginning already to contact Congressional members, asking them to not try to void this same se* marriage law.

As the debate over legalizing same-sex marriage shifts from city hall to Capitol Hill, Republican leaders in the District are forging an unusual alliance with gay rights activists, hoping to prevent a national fight over the issue.

Robert J. Kabel, the chairman of the D.C. Republican Committee, and Patrick Mara, a rising star in the local GOP, have begun urging party members in Congress not to oppose the D.C. Council's bill to allow gay couples to marry in the District.

The efforts by Kabel, who is gay, and Mara, who is straight, underscore the division over same-sex marriage between many of the city's 30,000 registered Republicans and the national party leadership.

"D.C. Republicans as a whole, for the most part, are live-and-let-live," said Mara, a same-sex marriage supporter who ran unsuccessfully for a council seat last year. "Since they live in an urban area, they don't really care what goes on in someone's home."

The D.C. Republican Committee has a long-standing commitment to gay rights, partly because of its membership, which includes many gay men who came to the city to work in government. But party leaders tread carefully to avoid fracturing a local party that struggles for relevance in an overwhelmingly Democratic city.

....."We are going to meet and encourage Republicans to just stay out of it," said Kabel, the only openly gay state-level GOP chairman in the country. "Our basic discussion point is, even though this is a federal city, we do have home rule and an elected mayor and council, so just let this process run its course."

Kabel and Mara's efforts are being noticed on the national stage. "The actions that Bob Kabel and Patrick Mara have taken are really at the forefront of what Republican officials have done," said Christian Berle, chief Washington lobbyist for the Log Cabin Republicans, a group of gay political activists.

Berle has compiled a list of 59 elected GOP officials nationwide who have endorsed same-sex marriage, including several state legislators in New Hampshire, where same-sex marriages are to begin next month.

But Kabel and Mara face a tough sell on Capitol Hill. No sitting GOP senators or House members support same-sex marriage, Berle said.

Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), ranking member of the House subcommittee that has oversight of the District, said in an interview that he won't be swayed by Kabel and Mara's lobbying efforts. <MORE>

Source
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/04/AR2009120404254.html

 

[SolaSaint]

I heard a stat the other day from about 10 -12 years ago concerning the life expectancy of gay men. It said that the average gay man lives until 43 years old and if they have aids it's 39. This compared to the average age of all American men being somewhere around 70 years old tells me that they are reaping what the sew. Is this a judgment from God? I don't know, but we as Christians should be telling our unbelieving gay men and women that this lifestyle is killing them physically as well as spiritually.

I don't know very much about the gay lifestyle except for what I've learned through a class I took on philosophy, but what little I did learn was horrible. The thought of the gay union sickens me, but this isn't all there is to this lifestyle, they are also very permiscuos and sadistic as well. Is this the judgment pronounced in Romans 1?

 

[rbell]

Washington has the authority it does to further empower the Democrat party.

And, also, any move to curtail DC's power would be met with the death knell of politics, "racism."

 

[billwald]

If sola saint is correct then homosexuals will pay into social security for years and die before collecting anything?

Before Lincoln's War there probably were no citizens of the District of Columbia. Only slaves would have lived there.

 

[Marcia]

Here is some background on how Wash DC got home rule. There is a long history preceding the 1973 ruling. And Congress has final authority over everything done by DC government and in DC.

In 1973, Congress enacted the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, providing for an elected mayor and the 13-member Council of the District of Columbia.[20] Each of the city's eight wards elects a single member of the council and five members, including the chairman, are elected at large.[21] There are 37 Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (ANCs) elected by small neighborhood districts. ANCs traditionally wield a great deal of influence and the city government routinely takes their suggestions into careful consideration.[22] The Council has the ability to pass local laws and ordinances. However, pursuant to the Home Rule Act all legislation passed by the D.C. government, including the city's local budget, remains subject to the approval of Congress.[19]

. . . . Despite the fact that Washington, D.C. has an elected mayor and city council, significant congressional oversight of the District's local affairs remains in place. The Congress can also revoke the city's home rule charter at any time or pass legislation in regards to the city without approval from residents or the local government.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/District_of_Columbia_home_rule