D.C. Pastors Argue to Let Voters Decide on Gay Marriage

Pastors and other traditional marriage advocates made arguments on Wednesday in support of allowing voters in Washington, D.C., to decide on whether to recognize same-sex marriages performed elsewhere

"The people of the District of Columbia should have the right to determine how marriage will be recognized in their district," said Brian Raum, senior legal counsel of the Alliance Defense Fund.

Raum contended before the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics that a referendum would not violate the District's Human Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination against minority groups, including gays and lesbians.

Under D.C. law, referendums cannot violate the act, which was approved in 1977.

Arguing that the act does was never intended to extend to same-sex marriage, Raum said, "The issue before us is not whether same-sex marriage is good or bad policy, but whether who gets to decide this critical moral and social issue."

"The proponents believe the people should decide," he said, as reported by The Washington Post.

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D.C. Pastors Argue to Let Voters Decide on Gay Marriage