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DEE HUNTER
Friday, August 22, 2008
THE
ISSUE
OF
same-sex
marriage
may
seem
like
fast-arriving
reality
on
the
national
landscape.
Here
in
the
District
of
Columbia,
however,
the
path
to
gay
marriage
promises
to
be
anything
but
a
smooth
trip
down
the
aisle.
Same-sex
marriage
should
and
will
be
a
reality
in
our
city.
Having
been
a
devoted
member
of
this
community
for
28
years,
I
know,
however,
that
all
members
of
our
family,
like
any
family,
must
be
included
in
such
fundamental
discussions.
The
only
way
around
a
delicate
issue
is
directly
through
it,
and
none
of
us
can
afford
to
ignore
the
fundamental
dynamics
of
race
and
class
in
our
city,
much
less
an
issue
as
important
as
same-sex
marriage.
Although
a
long
line
of
African-American
leaders
in
the
District
have
aligned
themselves
over
the
years
with
full
equality
for
our
LGBT
brothers
and
sisters,
this
line
has
often
stopped
short
at
the
threshold
of
the
local
church.
It
is
that
threshold
that
most
longtime
city
residents
consider
when
discussing
same-sex
marriage.
This
support
for
full
LGBT
equality
among
many
city
leaders
has
also
seen
its
reach
expire
before
grasping
the
family
dinner
table,
or
the
break
room
conversation
at
the
workplace.
As
a
citizen,
an
ANC
chair,
and
as
candidate
for
City
Council,
I
feel
an
obligation
to
go
well
beyond
the
typical
demonstrations
of
support
for
same-sex
marriage.
I
feel
a
mandate
to
carry
this
fundamental
human
rights
matter
—
yes,
this
civil
rights
matter
—
onward
to
the
entire
family
of
residents
of
our
city.
Of
all
people,
I
can
understand
the
lesson
of
history
with
which
LGBT
residents
must
now
grasp:
The
accordance
of
full
civil
and
legal
equality
achieves
its
highest
value
when
it
is
accompanied
by
broader
social
inclusion.
TO
PUT
IT
more
directly:
Rights
on
paper
are
a
very
different
thing
from
full
membership
in
the
family
of
mankind.
Unfortunately,
Council
Member
Carol
Schwartz
has
been
too
careful
to
appease
fundamentalist
elements
in
Congress
who
seek
to
continually
defer
our
inexorable
march
to
civil
rights,
civil
unity
and
inclusion
for
our
LGBT
community.
I
offer
a
better
way.
I
offer
an
appeal
to
the
entire
District
family
to
extend
not
just
tolerance,
but
full
inclusion
of
our
LGBT
neighbors
into
all
of
the
benefits
we
cherish
as
D.C.
citizens.
This
inclusion
can
begin
where
it
often
has
so
many
times
in
the
past:
in
our
spiritual
communities.
My
faith
as
a
member
of
the
Baptist
Church
and
my
faith
in
the
spiritual
leaders
of
our
community
compel
me
to
invite
them
to
engage
us,
not
only
to
explain
the
issues
presented
by
seeking
equality,
but
also
to
question
the
assumptions
that
have
left
too
many
of
our
neighbors
alone
to
face
discrimination,
rejection
and
the
challenges
of
health
and
home
—
ostracized
from
sources
of
comfort
and
guidance
that
have
served
many
of
us
so
well.
Provisions
for
same-sex
marriage
stand
to
benefit
hundreds,
even
thousands,
of
partners
in
our
city.
Why
shouldn’t
we
work
together
to
extend
these
benefits
to
all
who
seek
them
in
good
faith?
CERTAINLY,
INTOLERANCE
LOOKS
more
and
more
like
a
convenient
palliative
as
our
community
faces
tougher
times.
And
those
who
would
divide
us
are
content
to
emphasize
our
differences
in
values
as
scapegoats
for
irresponsible
policies,
misfortunes
in
our
markets
and
callous
indifference
to
civil
progress.
However,
we
are
a
District
united
not
only
in
our
appreciation
for
diversity,
but
in
our
common
hopes
for
a
better
community.
We
all
want
schools
that
can
deliver
results
for
all
of
our
students.
We
all
want
streets
that
are
safe,
no
matter
where
their
quadrant.
We
all
want
economic
progress
that
brings
businesses,
workers
and
communities
together
to
achieve
growth
and
prosperity.
And
we
all
want
to
enjoy
the
right
to
union
with
partners
that
we
choose,
accepted
as
full
citizens
of
the
District
and
members
of
the
Capital
family.
The
road
to
marriage
equality
in
our
city
winds
not
just
through
the
halls
of
Congress
and
the
courts,
but
also
through
the
homes
and
hearts
of
all
our
residents.
I
can,
and
will,
do
all
in
my
power
to
pave
the
way.
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