WASHPO: Barry Warns of "Civil War" over Gay Marriage

Not suprisingly The Advoc8te will have to strongly disagree with the Councilman yet again. Not only should equal rights be granted to everyone...especailly tax paying folks (sorry couldn't help myself) but how as self described "civil rights" leader you can distinguish against the rights of one minority group for another is beyond me and to marginalize their rights as citizens (and constitiuents) is truly troubling.

FYI - During his relection bid Mr.Barry won the endorsement of a major gay and lesbian equal rights group based off of his promise to "fully support gay marraige in DC". Why the about face now?

Click HERE to go to the WashPo article.

D.C. Council member Marion Barry (D-Ward 8), the only council member to vote against the bill today to legalize same-sex marriages performed elsewhere, predicted today there could be a "civil war" in the District if the Council decides to take up a broader gay marriage bill later this year.

"All hell is going to break lose," Barry said while speaking to reporters. "We may have a civil war. The black community is just adamant against this."

Barry made his remarks a few hours after a group of same-sex marriage opponents, led by black ministers, caused uproar in the Wilson Building after the Council voted 12 to 1 to recognize same-sex marriages performed elsewhere. They caused such a ruckus that security guards and police had to clear the hallway. The protesters shouted that council members who voted for the bill will face retribution at the polls.

Although he has been a longtime supporter of gay rights, Barry said he voted against the bill to satisfy his constituents in Southeast Washington.

"What you've got to understand is 98 percent of my constituents are black and we don't have but a handful of openly gay residents," Barry said. "Secondly, at least 70 percent of those who express themselves to me about this are opposed to anything dealing with this issue. The ministers think it is a sin, and I have to be sensitive to that."

But Barry said he disagrees with the ministers' antics today at the Wilson Building, saying the chaos "sets the movement back."

--Tim Craig