DC Court Agrees With Election Board: No Referendum On Gay Marriages

In Jackson v. District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics, (DC Super. Ct., June 30, 2009), the D.C. Superior Court refused to grant a preliminary injunction to stay the effective date of new legislation in D.C. that would recognize the validity of same-sex marriages performed elsewhere. The court upheld the finding by the Board of Elections that the law is not subject to a referendum because the referendum would violate D.C.'s Human Rights Act. (See prior posting.) In the lawsuit brought by seven D.C. residents led by Bishop Harry R. Jackson of Hope Christian Church in Beltsville (MD), the court said: "A citizen’s disagreement with constitutionally sound legislation, whether based on political, religious or moral views, does not rise to the level of an actionable harm." Today's Washington Times reports on the decision.