D.C. Gay Marriage Measure Set for Mayor’s Signature
The original vote was 13-0, for the Washington D.C. Council to recognize marriages of ALL people that are recognized in other states, including same-gender marriages.
At first Marion Barry (D-Ward8) rushed to one side of the Council votes to honor other States’ same-gender unions, voting yes for it. But then, seeming to pretend he didn’t understand what he was voting for, he asked Council for a ‘reconsideration’ of the vote.
Then, Mr. Barry voted against the measure, so the final vote was 12-1 for.
Regardless of how Mr. Barry votes, the mayor Adrian Fenty, a Democrat, is a supporter of marriages between same gendered people, and is expected to Ok the measure.
Then it goes before Congress. Under D.C.’s Home Rule, the District’s laws are given a 30-day Congressional review period.
But there are often ‘back stories’ arent there? It seems Mr. Barry was not confused. Something occurred to make him change his vote. A sudden series of faxes? A series of ‘…or else…’ email blasts, text messages? The large mob of protesters led by local preachers who were shouting in seeming unChristian style, “Get them [all] off the Council”?
According to WaPo,
“…before the final vote, Barry noted he has been a longtime supporter of gay rights but said he decided to stand with the “ministers who stand on the moral compass of God.”
“It has been a very agonizing and difficult decision,” Barry said. He then added, “I feel comfortable with this position because I know where my heart is. . . . I am representing my constituents. I have thought about it lot and I have been a friend of [the gay] community and will continue to be a friend of this community.”
There are several ironies in all this, the least of which is that you can rarely assert you are a true friend to others unless the others agree to accept you as a friend in return. A lasting friendship doesnt come by public fiat. It comes through supportive actions, reasoned disagreement, and much regard and love.
The other irony, is that ‘standing on the moral compass of God,’ is likely correct, since the God that dictated about ‘who would be with whom’ was the Old Testament God, Yaweh Jehovah, the God known for immense breath-taking Creation, and also known for destroying everything in sight in fits of rage.
Likewise, when old St. Paul reiterated the Old Testament abomination material in the New Testament in his ‘letters,’ he too was copying, not Christ, but the Old Testament God.
As usual, with regard to condemning human beings, Christ, the God of Love, never said a word about same gender philios and love. He just tried to care for, heal, and teach everyone peace and love, first and foremost. Those, as I understand them, would seem to be the authentic marks of the devout Christian… calming the storm, rather than raising one.