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Catania Praises Court Decision to Uphold Board of Elections Ruling |
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Court Says Human Rights Act Exemption is Legal
Washington, D.C. – Earlier today, Judge Judith Macaluso ruled in favor of the District of Columbia in the case Jackson vs. District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics. The opinion upholds the Board of Elections’ decision to prohibit a ballot initiative that would deny gay and lesbian couples the right to marry in the District of Columbia. Last month, the Council approved the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Equality Amendment Act of 2009, which grants the right of same-sex couples to marry in the District. Councilmember David Catania (At-Large), the author of the legislation, released the following statement on the Judge’s decision:
“I am pleased by Judge Macaluso’s thorough and far-reaching decision to uphold the ruling of the Board of Elections to protect the human rights of the GLBT community. For over 30 years, our Human Rights Act has been one of the most comprehensive statements on equality in the world and reinforces our deep commitment to the universal truths upon which this nation was founded. Today’s ruling, which addressed the substantive legal issues before the court, sustains the District’s tradition of treating all citizens equally under the law. I congratulate the General Counsel to the Board of Elections and the Attorney General for this important victory.”
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