Almost-Marriage For DC Gays

Last week Washington DC approved 39 additional provisions to existing domestic partners laws. Provided that Congress doesn't interfere, the new provisions will bring DC's gays "very close" to marriage equality.

Similar to its approval of earlier domestic partner law updates over the past several years, the Council passed the latest measure, the Omnibus Domestic Partnership Equality Amendment Act of 2008, by unanimous voice vote, without discussion or debate.

“I’m not a percentage type person,” said Councilmember Phil Mendelson (D-At-Large), the author and lead sponsor of the legislation. “But I’d say we’re getting very close,” he said, to domestic partners receiving full parity with married couples under local law.

Mendelson and other backers of the domestic partners law are quick to point out that the D.C. legislation cannot provide domestic partners with any of the more than 1,200 federal rights and benefits of marriage, such as Social Security benefits, because those provisions are prohibited under federal law.

Mayor Adrian Fenty was expected to sign the Mendelson bill passed by the Council on May 6. The legislation then goes to Capitol Hill for a congressional review period of 30 legislative days. It becomes law automatically if Congress takes no action on it.

(Via - Washington Blade)