Gay Marriage Fights Continue in New Jersey, California and D.C.
The 39 GOP members, including House Minority Leader John Boehner (Ohio) and Minority Whip Eric Cantor (Va.), filed an amicus brief in D.C. Superior Court calling for a voter referendum the legalization of gay marriage. Constitutionally, Congress has ultimate authority over laws that govern the District, the brief reportedly points out, explaining the congressmen's involvement in the issue.
Washington Mayor Adrian Fenty last month signed a bill, which was passed by the D.C. city council 11 to 2, legalizing gay marriage in the District. It is now under a requisite 30-day legislative review.
However, same-sex marriage opponent Bishop Harry Jackson, pastor of Hope Christian Church, is asking the Superior Court to reverse earlier rulings from the District elections board, which concluded that putting the question of gay marriage up for a public vote would be discriminatory against gays. The amicus brief filed by the 39 Washington lawmakers supports Jackson's request for a vote.
At the signing of the gay marriage bill, Fenty said that the District "will set the tone for other jurisdictions to follow in creating an open and inclusive city."
Only five states -- Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont and Iowa -- have legalized gay marriage. This afternoon, the New Jersey State Senate will vote on a bill to allow same-sex marriage. If it passes in the State Senate and subsequently in the State Assembly next week, Democratic Gov. Jone Corzine has promised to sign the bill, the New Jersey Star Ledger reports. However, Republican Gov.-elect Chris Christie, who takes office Jan. 19, opposes gay marriage.
Meanwhile, a court challenge to California's Proposition 8, a measure approved by voters in Nov. 2008 that banned same-sex marriage in the state, will be videotaped for delayed Internet release on YouTube, a federal judge ruled Wednesday. The trial will be part of a pilot program, approved last month by the federal appeals court in San Francisco, to allow telecasting of selected nonjury civil trials, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Court proceedings begin Monday.