| Disappointed, but Not Deterred |
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| Religion Archive | |||
| By Ed Laiscell - WI Staff Writer | |||
| Thursday, June 18, 2009 | |||
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Same-Sex Marraige Opponents Take Challenge to Court The D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics blocked the referendum effort, on Mon., June 15, by opponents of same-sex marriage recognition. The decision by the Elections Board disappointed the proponents for a referendum but has not deterred them as they promise to take their case to D.C. Superior Court. The proponents of the referendum, including Revs. Harry Jackson, Jr. and Walter E. Fauntroy, plan on challenging the decision in D.C. Superior Court, said Rev. Patrick Walker, chair of the Missionary Baptist Ministers’ Conference of D.C. and Vicinity’s Task Force against Same-Sex Marriage. “We are deeply disappointed about the Election Board’s decision,” he said in a written statement. “They have yet demonstrated that the residents of the District of Columbia simply do not have the same rights as other citizens of this democracy. “It is clear that the Council of the District of Columbia has no regard for the voices of the citizens of the District of Columbia and that the Board of Elections and Ethics has disenfranchised D.C. residents by refusing to allow any attempt to gather signatures for a referendum,” Walker wrote. The Board of Elections and Ethics ruled that the referendum proposed would authorize discrimination prohibited by the District of Columbia Human Rights Act. “We understand the sensitivity of this matter and appreciate the large number of citizens and civic organizations who gave input during this process,” stated Election Board Chair Errol R. Arthur. “After giving this matter very careful consideration, the Board feels that our statutory obligation to reject this referendum is clear.” Walker charged that the Election’s Board would not be a violation. “If same-sex marriage was not a violation of the Human Rights Act in 1995, how can it be a violation now?” asked Rev. Walker.
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