Ward 8 Dems back same-sex marriage

[William769]

Barry a no-show at Saturday meeting

Democrats in Ward 8 gathered Saturday at Washington Highlands Library and voted 21 to 11 in favor of a resolution that "affirms its historic support for the civil and human rights of all D.C. citizens by supporting civil marriage equality," a measure that refers to same-sex marriage in Washington.


Ward 4 Democrats overwhelmingly passed their version of the resolution on May 6. Ward 2 had previously passed it. Ward 5 meets tonight at Michigan Park Christian Church. Ward 6 has a meeting slated for Tuesday at the Southeast Branch Library at Eastern Market. Ward 7 has a noon meeting slated for May 30 but no venue set.


Saturday's Ward 8 pre-vote panel discussion and question/answer session got boisterous at times but remained polite. Gay rights activists were especially curious to see how Ward 8 Democrats would vote since its Council representative Marion Barry, who did not attend, was the lone Council member to vote against a bill earlier this month that recognizes same-sex marriages in the District that were performed in other states and countries. Barry has said he voted against the measure under pressure from his Ward 8 constituents. Barry is a Democrat.


The three-member panel that addressed the hot-button issue included Phil Pannell, a black gay activist and Ward 8 resident; Rev. Patrick Walker, who's straight and chair of the Missionary Baptist Ministers' Conference, a task force of clergy members opposed to same-sex marriage; and Rev. Dennis Wiley, a straight-but-gay-affirming local pastor of Covenant Baptist Church. Ward 8 resident Calvin Lockridge, who's straight and opposes marriage rights for same-sex couples, questioned why the panel was lopsided in favor of gays. Former Council member Sandy Allen said she'd planned to have Barry on the panel but a doctor's appointment prevented his attendance.

http://www.washblade.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=25450

[malletgirl02]

1. Barry

Barry was probably high at time time so he wasn't able to attend the meeting. It was a good thing he wasn't there, he would granstand if he was. In regards to the resolution passing it is great news that it did pass.