District of Columbia

On December 18, 2009, Mayor Adrian Fenty signed a marriage bill which ended the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage, after it twice passed by an overwhelming majority of City Council members. As of March 3, 2010, following a Congressional Review period, same-sex couples in the District of Columbia can now apply for a marriage license. For information about how to get married in DC: Supreme Court of DC Marriage Bureau Section and District of Columbia Office of GLBT Affairs.

In 2009, the DC Council also passed and the mayor signed a bill that ensures out-of-state marriages of same-sex couples are respected and treated equally under law. The law took effect in July 2009.

In 1992, the District City Council passed a domestic partnership law, which offered a few (less than 8 of 212 in the DC code) protections and responsibilities to same-sex couples and their families, but the U.S. Congress blocked this law from taking effect until 2002. Over the years, the domestic partnership law was expanded to include all of the same protections and responsibilities that marriage provides (referred to as broad domestic partnership), but not the equality that only comes with marriage.

State advocacy groups and a very active grassroots community of supporters continue to work to protect marriage.
 
Status: Marriage
 
Groups Actively Working on Marriage 
 
Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance: a local, all-volunteer, non-partisan, non-profit political organization, fighting for the civil rights of gay men, lesbians, bisexuals and transgenders

DC for Marriage: an emerging group of local residents working towards equal rights and responsibilities for same sex couples in the District of Columbia

Blog Posts Related to

Following DC: What the Freedom to Marry in the Capital Means Nationwide

By Evan Wolfson, Executive Director, Freedom to Marry

Today, surrounded by friends and family, the first same-sex couples in Washington D.C. to receive marriage licenses are celebrating their legal marriages.

D.C. now officially joins the five states and eight countries that have ended exclusion from marriage. Marriage in our nation's capital marks a significant victory not only for D.C. couples who no longer need to leave home to secure the protections and responsibilities of marriage, but also for the national movement to win the freedom to marry.

Soon-to-wed D.C. same-sex couple shares their journey

They met in grad school.

Angelisa Young and Sinjoyla Townsend were assigned to debate opposing sides of the same issue in a constitutional law class at the University of the District of Columbia, and both were so nerdily over-prepared -- typical Washingtonians -- that the other members of their group decided the debate was a draw.

Catholics for Marriage Equality Launches National Website

Welcome to Catholics for Marriage Equality (C4ME). Faithful Roman Catholics throughout the United States are raising their voices in support of civil marriage for same-sex couples.

Become part of our united effort to create effective and respectful responses to our bishops' opposition to civil marriages for same-sex couples.

See All »

Resources Related to

FAQ about Maryland Attorney General’s Opinion on Out-of-State Marriage Licenses

Equality Maryland's answers to frequently asked questions.

Moving the Middle on Marriage:  Lessons from Maine and Washington

If advocates can successfully tap into the true spirit of marriage and convince the middle that gay couples want to get married for the same reasons that straight couples do, we think we will be able to address the middle’s remaining concerns and help move that group, and the country, more quickly towards support for marriage.

Compendium of Social Science Research on Gay Headed Families

A short list of social science articles on the impact of a parent's sexual orientation on the development of children.