Anti-Gay Ministers Want Referendum on D.C. Marriage

Clearly buoyed by Tuesday's decision by the California Supreme Court to let stand the voter-approved initiative that banned same-sex marriage, the publicity-hungry gay-bashing Bishop Harry Jackson and a group of local ministers filed papers requesting a voter referendum to overturn the new Washington D.C. law that recognizes legal same-sex marriages performed elsewhere, reports the Washington Post.

In paperwork filed with the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics, the group Stand 4 Marriage D.C. said it wants to begin the process of collecting about 21,000 signatures needed to overturn the bill that the D.C. Council overwhelmingly approved this month recognizing same-sex marriages performed elsewhere. That bill is tentatively scheduled to take effect in July.

The referendum effort is a preemptive strike designed to slow plans by several council members to take up a separate bill this year to allow same-sex marriages to be performed in the District.

"It's a declaration of war," said Bishop Harry Jackson, senior pastor of Hope Christian Church in Beltsville, a vocal critic of same-sex marriage and a leader of the referendum effort. "We are sending a clear message this is going to be fought every step of the way."

Jackson has allied with other ministers from the Washington region. The Archdiocese of Washington issued a statement yesterday reiterating its opposition to same-sex marriage but withheld support for the proposed referendum until church officials could review it.

Marriage equality opponents in the District will face a much greater hurdle to get the issue on the ballot than opponents did in California. The Washington Blade reports: "The law prohibits referenda aimed at changing tax laws, appropriating funds or restricting or repealing the city's Human Rights Act. Some gay activists have argued that a referendum calling for prohibiting same-sex marriage in the District could not be allowed because it would violate the Human Rights Act's ban on sexual orientation discrimination. "

Michael Crawford, the black gay activist, blogger and president of the same-sex marriage advocacy group D.C. For Marriage, says the fight against ,marriage in the District is likely to become even uglier than California. "I think we would see a very divisive campaign along racial lines," Crawford said. "It's up to each of us to work hard to make sure that doesn't happen."

Group Seeks to Block DC Bill [WaPo]
Anti-Gay Ministers Seek Referndum [Blade]

Some Background...
Anti-Gay Black Pastors Threaten to Unseat Council [R20]
D.C. Council Votes to Recognize Other States' SSMs [R20]
Marion Barry Reneges on Marriage Equality [R20]
Mayor Fenty Defends Council's Gay Marriage Vote [R20]
DC Mayor Fenty to Meet with Activists on Anti-Gay Violence [R20]
DC Police Say Fatal Attack Robbery, Not Hate Crime [R20]
Report: Fenty Pledges to Sign a Gay Marriage Bill [R20]
Marion Barry Supports Gay Marriage [R20]
Fenty Staff Blamed For Objections to DP Bill [R20]
Fenty Admin. Objects to Domestic Partnership Bill [R20]

Comments

[Antwan]

what is really sad about this farce is that jackson and his ministers are all black. it feeds the myth that all blacks are homophobic, and you know they are funded by white social conservatives.

smh

[Chitown Kev]

All I have to say about all this drama that seems to be reaady to erupt in DC is I hope the black gay community in DC can stand up.

[kayman]

I think this is just the reflection of the older set and the conservative black folks. Nothing more, nothing less. The problem with the problem lays with the socially moderate and uninformed on the issue. If it does come down to a referendum then those will be your true aides in the pro same-gender marriage initiative's passage.

[Giselle]

LMAO aren't there bigger issues for them to battle? I also find it funny in DC of all places. don't you guys have a huge black LGBT Community there?

[Moreno]

Nope, these anti-gay black pastors always want to fight gays. they need to be worried about the sky high murder rate in DC, or homicide, or AIDS, the serious issues facing the community.

[GBM]

Well Moreno,

Truth be told. Those issues are plaging everywhere. But you know the white based media will put Blacks on display as if No Hispanics, Asians, or Poor whites suffers from the same thing. BULLS#@T

After all the Prop 8 petition wasn't started by African Americans. Some of them were fooled with lying language to support it.