Don't Forget Your Promises to Gays, Mayor Fenty

Washington Blade editor Kevin Naff has a good piece in the Washington Post, reminding Adrian Fenty, who will be sworn in today as DC's new mayor, of the promises he made to the gay community during his election campaign. Primarily this one:

"I believe that the government should never discriminate against people because of who they are. The state should make it possible for every committed couple to obtain an official civil marriage with all of the legal rights and responsibilities that married heterosexual couples currently enjoy."

Civil recognition of same sex marriage has never been pursued in the district because Congress has the right to step in and override the will of the people here, a galling situation given we have no elected representative who can actually vote in Congress (though this may be changing). Local gay activists, primarily the Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance (GLAA), have argued against legalizing civil same sex marriage because it would antagonize the Republican Congress. Naff points out that objection no longer exists.

Mayor Fenty has plenty of issues that should top his agenda, including take over of the school system which should be his top priority. But let's hope he doesn't forget this promise.

My prediction, though, is nothing will come of it. DC is too conservative to be on the forefront of social change. I hope to be surprised. But I suspect that the new Democratic leaders in Congress won't want to have to deal with this issue in 2008, once again proving the Democrats will take our money and our votes but refuse to take risks on our behalf. If that happens, hopefully our gay rights organizations will spurn their natural instincts to roll over for the Democratic party and will actually try to hold them accountable to their promises.