Aug 04, 2006  |  By: JOSHUA LYNSEN  | COMMENTS     

Lisa Greene, a 40-year-old District resident, filed papers July 31 at the D.C. Board of Elections & Ethics to introduce a ballot initiative that would “define marriage as a relationship between one man and one woman only.”

Two days later, she withdrew the initiative. In a letter to the board dated Aug. 2, she did not indicate any reason for the withdrawal.

Greene, a registered Republican and founder of D.C. Citizens for Marriage, did not respond to calls seeking comment.

Gay D.C. Councilmember Jim Graham said he was relieved Greene withdrew her initiative.

“We’ve got so many pressing issues that we need to concentrate on those issues,” he said. “I’m relieved that we don’t have to fight this kind of referendum.”

Greene made a similar filing in October 2004. That initiative also was withdrawn after a Board of Elections official told Greene she used an incorrect legislative format in her wording of the initiative, and she failed to submit a required campaign finance statement.

Greene said at the time that she would correct her mistakes and resubmit the initiative.

“As an African American, I feel it’s important to preserve the family,” she said. The prior filing was withdrawn in November 2004.

The new filing, entitled “D.C. Marriage Amendment,” asserts what Greene describes as “the right of the electorate” to decide whether gay couples can marry.

“The electorate wants to uphold the right to define marriage, not the Council of the District of Columbia,” it says. “It is the right of the electorate of the District of Columbia to define marriage, not judges.”

Gay marriage is not legal in the District.

Brian Watson, president of the D.C. Coalition of Black Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Men & Women, said the initiative likely would have failed had it moved forward.

“D.C. is somewhat progressive,” he said. “I don’t think anything like that would pass in D.C. if it was up to the voters, the people who live here, and our City Council and mayor.”

Cornelius Baker, chair of Foundation for All D.C. Families, said it’s unclear what Greene was hoping to achieve by filing and then withdrawing her initiative.

“My feeling is that homophobia makes people do crazy things,” he said. “We have to remain vigilant and focused so that our city can continue to be better than this sort of thing that we’ve seen across the country.”

Baker said All D.C. Families, which formed to combat any ballot initiatives to ban gay marriage in the District, applauded Greene for withdrawing her initiative.

 “She did right thing by not creating a divisive ballot initiative that would have torn our city apart for no good reason,” he said. “There’s just so much more for us to be working together for that we don’t need to be working against each other.”

Greene’s filing — which would have been reviewed by District officials and then have required 19,000 supportive signatures to advance — came too late for inclusion on the November ballot.

Bill O’Field, a D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics spokesperson, said the earliest the measure could have gone before voters was 2008.