II 111th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 2980 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 2, 2010 Mr. Bennett (for himself, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Wicker, Mr. Vitter, Mr. Enzi, Mr. Brownback, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Roberts, and Mr. Hatch) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs A BILL To protect the democratic process and the right of the people of the District of Columbia to define marriage.

1.

Findings

Congress finds that— (1)a broad coalition of residents of the District of Columbia petitioned for an initiative in accordance with the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to establish that only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in the District of Columbia; (2)this petition anticipated the Council of the District of Columbia’s passage of an Act legalizing same-sex marriage; (3)the unelected District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics and the unelected District of Columbia Superior Court thwarted the residents’ initiative effort to define marriage democratically, holding that the initiative amounted to discrimination prohibited by the District of Columbia Human Rights Act; and (4)the definition of marriage affects every person and should be debated openly and democratically.

2.

Referendum or initiative requirement

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, including the District of Columbia Human Rights Act, the government of the District of Columbia shall not issue a marriage license to any couple of the same sex until the people of the District of Columbia have the opportunity to hold a referendum or initiative on the question of whether the District of Columbia should issue same-sex marriage licenses.