“The Demons has Showed Up!”  Says Opponent at DC’s Same-Sex Marriage Hearing

The DC City Council concluded the first day of testimonies for the same-sex marriage bill hearings late Monday evening with witness Ernestine Copelander.

''Now how in the world did you get my sisters and brothers to follow your evil and corrupt ways?” she asked of openly gay councilman David Catania, referencing the black council members, “The demons has showed up!”

Copeland directed most of her condemnations at Councilmen Tommy Wells and David Catania claiming that they would “lead my people to hell” by supporting same-sex marriages which “will destroy our society.”

Copelander offered the most colorful testimony of the hundred plus witnesses who spoke at the hearing.  The majority of the testimonies came from supporters of same-sex marriage in the district sharing stories that personalized their belief in the bill.  Opponents included socially conservative religious groups arguing that the measure should be voted on.

Earlier this year, the board rejected a ballot measure spearheaded by Bishop Harry Jackson, a Maryland minister, to overturn a new law that recognizes marriage licenses granted to same-sex couples by other states citing that the initiative would violate the city’s Human Rights Act.

On Sunday, Jackson along with other religious leaders and opponents of the same-sex marriage bill protest at Freedom Plaza.  The group is pushing for a referendum on the same-sex legislation in DC in 2010 to bring the issue to a vote.  Lawyers for the group say a vote on the issue would not violate the Human Rights Act.

The hearing will resume Monday when the remaining 169 people who have signed up will speak. 

The bill is expected to easily pass since 10 of the 13 City Council members have signed on as sponsors.  Mayor Adrian Fenty has already stated he would sign the measure into law and Democratic Congressional leaders have said that Congress, who has 60 days to review any DC legislation, will not interfere with the bill passing.

The same-sex marriage bill was sponsored by Councilmember David Catania.