DC Council Recognizes Out-of-State Same-Sex Marriages

Posted by Amanda Terkel, Think Progress at 4:28 PM on May 5, 2009.

After an “emotional debate” today, the DC Council gave “final approval to legislation that recognizes same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions. … The issue now goes before Congress, which has final say over the city’s laws.” The vote was originally unanimous, until “councilman Marion Barry proclaimed that he didn’t realize what he was voting for and asked for reconsideration of the measure. The measure was amended to another bill.” Berry said that his nay vote was an “‘agonizing and difficult decision’ that he made after prayer and consulting with the religious community.”

Update: Speaking to reporters today, Barry said that a "civil war" will break out if DC recognizes same-sex marriages. "All hell is going to break lose," he added.

Tagged as: washington dc, lgbt rights, marion barry

Amanda Terkel is Deputy Research Director at the Center for American Progress and serves as Deputy Editor for The Progress Report and ThinkProgress.org at the Center for American Progress.