Norton Fights Another Attempt To Overrule D.C. Marriage Equality Law

Press Release

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) scored another victory in protecting the District's new Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Equality Amendment Act against another congressional attempt to nullify it. She turned back Sen. Robert Bennett's (R-UT) efforts yesterday to attach an amendment to the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization bill that would have prohibited the District of Columbia from issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples pending a referendum. Norton said she was grateful to Democratic leaders and other allies in the Senate for their work on this issue.
Although the Supreme Court, D.C. courts, and the D.C. Board of Elections have blocked the referendum, opponents of marriage equality in the District continue to seek congressional support. The Congresswoman has defeated five congressional efforts to thwart enforcement of marriage equality in the District, in addition to Bennett's amendment that would have kept the District from enforcing its new law. Norton was successful last year in maintaining the District's law to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states. At her Capitol Hill "End-of-the-Countdown" reception last week celebrating the marriage equality law at the close of the congressional layover period, Norton said that she was "not on sentry duty anymore," but had moved to daily vigils because she expected future attacks like Bennett's attempt this week to nullify the marriage equality bill. "No sooner had we finished celebrating our new marriage equality law than the Bennett amendment became the first of counter attacks I expect all session," Norton said. "But I abide no pessimism about turning them back. I will continue to work with our friends in the Senate, where the attacks are likely to come most frequently." The Congresswoman is working to secure home-rule expansion this year with voting rights, and budget and legislative autonomy.

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