Opponents of DC Gay Marriage Bill Hope Congress Intervenes

One pastor, The Rev. Maxwell Washington, said he didn’t like the ruckus but “our council gone just a little bit too far when they came up with same sex marriage and going to make it a civil rights issue.”

And they have allies on Capitol Hill, which has thirty days to review the matter before it becomes law. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said she supports the measure and wants Congress to stay out of it. But conservatives lawmakers hope to force a vote on the bill.

“I think we should be allowed to express each of our opinions,” Utah Republican Rep. Jason Chaffetz said. “I happen to represent what I think is the majority opinion, which is marriage should be defined as between one man and one woman.”

Yet for some long-time activists, who own a gay bookstore in the District, the pastors and conservatives are wrong.

“”We are, as far as we’re concerned, married 100 percent for life,” said Deacon MacCubbin, owner of Lambda Rising Bookstore. “That’s the way it is. And yet, there are people that want to stand between him and I in those personal, private matters. See Opponents of DC Gay Marriage Bill Hope Congress Intervenes
News Channel 8 – Washington,DC,USA

Published by

Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2009/05/opponents-of-…

Barry Warns of “Civil War” Over Gay Marriage in DC

D.C. Council member Marion Barry (D-Ward 8), the only council member to vote against the bill today to legalize same-sex marriages performed elsewhere, predicted today there could be a “civil war” in the District if the Council decides to take up a broader gay marriage bill later this year.

“All hell is going to break lose,” Barry said while speaking to reporters. “We may have a civil war. The black community is just adamant against this.”

Barry made his remarks a few hours after a group of same-sex marriage opponents, led by black ministers, caused uproar in the Wilson Building after the Council voted 12 to 1 to recognize same-sex marriages performed elsewhere. They caused such a ruckus that security guards and police had to clear the hallway. The protesters shouted that council members who voted for the bill will face retribution at the polls.

Although he has been a longtime supporter of gay rights, Barry said he voted against the bill to satisfy his constituents in Southeast Washington.

“What you’ve got to understand is 98 percent of my constituents are black and we don’t have but a handful of openly gay residents,” Barry said. “Secondly, at least 70 percent of those who express themselves to me about this are opposed to anything dealing with this issue. The ministers think it is a sin, and I have to be sensitive to that.”