Norton Expresses Confidence that Congress Will Not Trample on DC's Marriage Equality Law (12/15/09)

Norton Expresses Confidence that Congress Will Not Trample on D.C.'s Marriage Equality Law

December 15, 2009

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) issued the following statement to the LGBT community and their supporters ensuring them that she has taken steps to make sure that the same-sex marriage bill passed by the D.C. City Council today will not be overturned by the Democratic Congress:

"I will be in the midst of a prior mandatory event when you are where I most want to be this evening. Today our city and the nation celebrate a new human rights landmark. The sponsor of the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Equality Amendment Act, David Catania, Chairman Vincent Gray, and the Council super majority made more than law today with the strong and indispensible help of the LBGT community. You have not only given the city and the nation a new, bold human rights law. You have vindicated the great civil rights tradition of the people of the District of Columbia. We continue to believe, as always, that human rights means all or it means nothing. Let me assure the LGBT community and all who have struggled with you that you can take one last concern off the table. I have already locked the barn door before the bill can get to the Hill. What happens in the District, will stay in the District!"