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

Anti-Marriage Hiram Monserratte is Defeated; Pro-Marriage Jose Peralta Elected

Anti-marriage former State Senator Hiram Monserratte lost his bid top regain his seat yesterday. He was defeated by a 3-1 margin by Assemblymember Jose Peralta. Peralta voted for marriage for same-sex couples three times while serving in the Assembly.

Make Your Family Count

This year same-sex couples have an important opportunity to stand up and be counted. The U.S. Census is conducting a survey to get a more accurate count of all Americans and households including same-sex couples and their families. The information collected by the Census is confidential, but crucial because it will be used by federal and state governments to set congressional district boundaries and to distribute billions of dollars in social services. The Census is also used by researchers and commentators, and is a powerful way to make our families more visible and thus more respected.

Join the Stars in an anti-Prop 8 Scavenger Hunt to support Marriage Equality & The Williams Inst.

You are cordially invited to a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

On April 18, join Neil Patrick Harris, Kristin Chenoweth, Jeff Probst, Steven Weber, Kathy Najimy, Camryn Manheim, and many other celebrities in an anti-Prop 8 scavenger hunt across Los Angeles, with all proceeds going to the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law.

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Resources Related to

Frequently Asked Questions About Marriage Recognition for Same-Sex Couples in Maryland

Lambda Legal, American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, Equality Maryland, and the American Civil Liberties Union: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Guide for same-sex couples in Maryland who married out of state.

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.

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