Same Sex Marriage Opponents In DC Want A Vote

WASHINGTON, DC (WUSA) -- Opponents of same sex marriage are asking for a referendum on the issue before DC voters.

The City Council voted last month to recognize same sex marriages from other states. The group, Stand 4 Marriage DC, wants the community to have a say on that.

The Board of Elections and Ethics today held a hearing on the request to put the issue on the ballot.

Brandon Estela and Kenny Wright, who've been together 11 years, say they came to the Board of Elections and Ethics hearing to put a human face on the same sex marriage issue before the panel.

"It's people's rights to visit their partner in the hospital, to get benefits at work. Rights you have if same sex marriages are recognized," Wright says. "Those rights can be questioned
if they aren't recognized."

The hearing room was packed with people on both sides of the issue.

"We haven't been heard on this issue," a woman from Georgetown said. "This is not where we should be headed on this issue."

Bishop Harry Jackson of Stand 4 Marriage DC says, "We felt it was not appropriate for 12 people to decide the will of the people of the region."

In a move that's rare among City Councilmembers, Phil Mendelsohn, (D-At Large), showed up to "set the record straight."

Mendelsohn told the Board that the measure was first put on the table in March, two months before the council voted to approve it May 5th.

"In fact, however, the legislation was not rushed through. What we heard was very little opposition."

Mendolsohn and gay rights advocates say there's an even more fundamental reason to vote against the referendum.

"I don't believe this is a measure that should be put to a referendum, because it violates the human rights act," Brandon Estela says.

Some supporters of the referendum say opponents are afraid of the outcome.

Bishop Jackson says, "I think we would win, and people in DC would support biblical marriage."

Residents will have to wait a bit longer to find out if they'll get to vote.

The board expects to decide within the next week or two.