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Gay Marriage Becomes Legal in DC
It was cold and drizzling outside the City Courthouse just after 6 a.m.
on Wednesday, but no one seemed to mind among the same-sex couples
waiting excitedly for the chance to apply for a marriage license.“ This is a dream come true,” said Sinjoyla Townsend, 41, as she smiled
ear to ear and held up her ticket indicating she was first in line with
her partner of 12 years, Angelisa Young, 47. “We wanted it so bad.”
Gay-rights advocates hailed the day as a milestone for equal rights and a symbolic victory as same-sex marriage became legal in the nation’s capital. Washington is now the sixth place in the nation where same-sex
marriages can take place. Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New
Hampshire and Vermont also issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
Despite failing in court, opponents of the law vowed to fight another day.The law survived Congressional attempts to block it, and on Tuesday Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. rejected a request from opponents of gay marriage to have the United States Supreme Court put the new law on hold.
Mayor Adrian M. Fenty
signed the measure into law in December, but because Washington is not
a state, the law had to undergo Congressional review, which ended
Tuesday.
Catholic Charities
of the Archdiocese of Washington on Tuesday limited employee health
care benefits to avoid coverage of same-sex couples. It was the second
time Catholic Charities changed its rules to protest same-sex marriage,
having earlier ended its foster care program.
The city’s new law was already having regional implications. Last Wednesday, Maryland’s attorney general, Douglas F. Gansler, issued
a legal opinion concluding that his state should immediately begin
recognizing same-sex marriages performed elsewhere. Mr. Gansler’s move is expected to draw legal and legislative
challenges, but for Terrance Heath it was the turning point that
convinced him it was time to get married.
“We realized that we can finally get many of the benefits and
protections that other couples take for granted,” said Mr. Heath, a
41-year-old blogger who lives with his partner, Rick Imirowicz, 43, and
their two adopted sons in Montgomery County, Md. “ Before that attorney general decision we could have the legal
documents, like wills and medical power of attorney,” Mr. Heath said.
“ But there was no guarantee that those documents would be recognized.”
He said that he and his partner had worried about what might happen to
any inheritance meant for their adopted sons, Parker, 7, and Dylan, 2.
“Marriage gives us peace of mind,” Mr. Heath said. “It gives my family security that we deserve.” At the city’s Marriage Bureau inside the Moultrie Courthouse, just
blocks from the Capitol, the mood was giddy as couples hugged and
talked about a day they never thought would arrive.
“I became a naturalized U.S. citizen in mid-’90s,” said Cuc Vu, a
native of Vietnam who held the third position in line with her partner
of 20 years, Gwen Migita. “But this is really the first time that I
feel like I have the full rights and benefits of citizenship.”
Court officials explained that the Marriage Bureau changed its license
applications in preparation for the new licenses. They now ask for the
name of each “spouse” rather than the “bride” and “groom.” Officials
who perform the weddings read: “I now pronounce you legally married”
instead of “I now pronounce you man and wife.” On a typical day the office processes 10 licenses, court officials said. On Wednesday, they expected more than 200 requests. Because of a mandatory waiting period, couples will not be able to marry in the city until Tuesday.
City officials say the measure will also provide a much-needed
financial boost to the local economy. A study by the Williams Institute
at the University of California,
Los Angeles, predicted that more than 14,000 same-sex marriages would
occur in the city over the next three years, which would bring in $5
million in new tax revenue and create 700 jobs.
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