A same-sex marriage bill was introduced in Washington, D.C. Tuesday by a District of Columbia councilman. The bill now awaits Congress to review the legislation before it becomes law.
Washington, D.C. began recognizing same-sex marriages being performed elsewhere this past July, and Congress had the opportunity to act on it earlier this year. David Catania, a Washington, D.C. councilman, independent and one of two openly gay members of the Council, introduced the bill. He told Advocate.com he is hopeful for a vote on the bill in December.
“There is no question that we are about to embark on an exciting journey here in the district,” Catania said.
If the bill does become law, it will follow suit to Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa and Vermont. Those states issue marriage licenses, and New Hampshire will begin doing so in January. Maine will decide in November whether to allow the bill that has been passed, and California had the ability to distribute the licenses until a law was passed banning same-sex marriage.
The bill also states religious leaders and institutions are not required to perform marriages or rent their space out for same-sex marriages.
U.S. Representative Jason Chaffetz is one Republican fighting against the bill passing.
“Some fights are worth fighting for,” Chaffetz told Advocate.com. “This is one of them.”
Congress has only denied three pieces of legislation in the past 25 years.
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— Kim Brown
