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DC council again votes to recognize same-sex marriages performed elsewhere

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] The Council of the District of Columbia voted Tuesday to recognize same-sex marriages performed outside of Washington, DC. The bill, proposed by DC Councilman Phil Mendelson, was approved by a 12-1 vote. The dissenting vote was cast by Councilman Marion Barry. The legislation was given preliminary approval last month. The measure must now be approved by the mayor and then by Congress under the Home Rule Act. The DC Council's vote comes on the same day that the Maine House of Representatives approved a bill that would allow same-sex marriage in the state. The vote follows last week's approval by the Maine Senate. Also last week, the New Hampshire Senate voted 13-11 to approve a bill permitting same-sex marriage. The New Hampshire House of Representatives approved the bill in March by a vote of 186-179. The two differing versions of the bill must now be reconciled. Last month, Vermont became the fourth state to legalize same-sex marriage and the first to do so through a vote of the legislature, joining Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Iowa.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on May 05, 2009 (boomark / email).