WASHINGTON: Appeals Court Rejects Bid To Force DC Marriage Referendum

The Washington DC Court of Appeals ruled 5-4 this morning to reject a bid to put marriage equality to a public vote. The Human Rights Campaign reports via press release:

“The court’s ruling today is a significant victory for justice, the rule of law and the protection of all D.C. residents against discrimination,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. "It’s time for the National Organization for Marriage to realize equality is here to stay no matter how much money they want to throw at turning back the clock." In its decision, the Court of Appeals, D.C.’s highest court, decided 5-4 that the Council properly exercised its authority under the D.C. Charter in establishing the requirement that a proposed initiative may not authorize, or have the effect of authorizing, discrimination prohibited by the D.C. Human Rights Act.

The Court ruled unanimously that the proposed initiative would in fact impermissibly permit discrimination against gays and lesbians in the District. “The D.C. Council made a wise decision decades ago that no initiative should be permitted to strip away any individual’s civil rights. The Court unanimously found that the proposed anti-marriage initiative would have the effect of causing discrimination, and in doing so, stood up for the entire D.C. community,” said Solmonese.

The HRC notes that while Maryland-based Bishop Harry Jackson (above) is the person most connected with the bid to overturn gay marriage in DC, the driving forces behind the now-failed initiative were the Alliance Defense Fund and NOM. Another win for the good guys today and a big FAIL buzzer for Bishop Harry!