Church Presses for Exemption To Exclude Homosexuals From Employee Benefits

Wall Street Journal

The city's Roman Catholic leaders, in particular, have pressed for a broader exemption to allow the church -- or any group or individual opposed to same-sex marriage -- not to provide benefits to same-sex partners of its employees.
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Pastors and other opponents say most district residents don't want the bill and have called for a ballot measure to decide the issue. The city's election board rejected a petition for a referendum, saying it would violate Washington's Human Rights Act. Opponents have sued the election board.

Supporters say allowing same-sex couples to marry in the district, which has one of the nation's largest gay communities, is a human right long overdue. "The majority doesn't get to vote on whether a minority has equality," said council member Phil Mendelson.