Same sex marriage licenses will begin to be issued tomorrow, Wednesday March 3rd in Washington DC. Although couples can register for the licenses on Wednesday, there is a 3 day waiting period before they can exchange vows.
Opponents of the new legislation attempted to have the Supreme Court block the law in order to allow an appeal, stating that the voters should have a say on the issue. However, today, the Supreme Court denied the request, allowing the new law to go into effect. Chief Justice John Roberts responded to the request for a stay by stating, "It has been the practice of the court to defer to the decisions of the courts of the District of Columbia on matters of exclusively local concern."
DC’s new legislation will be added to other US locales where same sex marriage is legal: New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Iowa, Connecticut and Vermont.
In the wake of the new law in DC, Catholic Charities has issued a new ruling of their own. On Monday, they announced that they’d changed their health care coverage for DC employees, and would no longer cover spouses benefits. Their new policy takes effect today, Tuesday, one day before same sex couples will be allowed to obtain marriage licenses in DC.
A spokesman for the charity said, "This allows us to continue providing services, comply with the city’s new requirements and remain faithful to the church’s teaching."
With the new law pending, the Catholic Charities just last month transferred their foster care program to another organization, rather than be forced to include same sex families once the law takes effect. As a private, nonprofit organization, Catholic Charities is within its legal rights to alter their health coverage and to transfer their programs. They employ about 850 people, of which only about 100 currently use their spousal benefit program.
