WaPo's Craig Complains Pastor 'Refusing to Relent' to Put Definition of Marriage Before D.C. Voters

September 1st, 2009 4:40 PM

"Geez, when will this guy go away?!" That's the tenor of the lede to Washington Post staffer Tim Craig's story "Pastor Redoubles Efforts vs. Same-Sex Marriage" (emphasis mine):

Bishop Harry Jackson is refusing to relent in his campaign to stop same-sex marriage in the District, despite the drubbing he took before the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics this summer. 

What Jackson is trying to do is put the following initiative before voters:

Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid and recognized in the District of Columbia.

Earlier this year the D.C. Council passed a bill to recognize gay marriages performed in states where they are valid. Craig noted before closing with an admonition for Jackson from a liberal activist:

Many observers say Jackson, who registered to vote in the District in April, will have difficulty convincing the board that its previous ruling should not also apply to the latest proposed initiative.

"It is our belief that once again Bishop Jackson will find that the laws of D.C. protect minorities from discrimination of the sort that he and his followers would like to inflict," said Peter Rosenstein, president of the Campaign for All D.C. Families, which supports same-sex marriage. "I hope that when this initiative is ruled out of order that the bishop will then return to Maryland and leave the people of the District alone so that they may continue to celebrate the diversity that has made our city great."