Court rejects appeal over DC gay marriage law

Published January 18, 2011 4:01PM (EST)

FILE - In this March 5, 2009, photo, the Supreme Court is seen in Washington. Supreme Court justices are meeting Friday, Jan. 14, 2011, to consider accepting new appeals, including Gary Peel's. Peel began an affair with his 16-year-old sister-in-law in 1974 and also took nude photos of her. The photos led to Peel's conviction for possession of child pornography, a conviction that Peel, is now asking the Supreme court to overturn.  (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) (J. Scott Applewhite)
FILE - In this March 5, 2009, photo, the Supreme Court is seen in Washington. Supreme Court justices are meeting Friday, Jan. 14, 2011, to consider accepting new appeals, including Gary Peel's. Peel began an affair with his 16-year-old sister-in-law in 1974 and also took nude photos of her. The photos led to Peel's conviction for possession of child pornography, a conviction that Peel, is now asking the Supreme court to overturn. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) (J. Scott Applewhite)

The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal from opponents of same-sex marriage who want to overturn the District of Columbia's gay marriage law.

The court did not comment Tuesday in turning away a challenge from a Maryland pastor and others who are trying to get a measure on the ballot to allow Washingtonians to vote on a measure that defines marriage as between a man and a woman.

Bishop Harry Jackson led a lawsuit against the district's Board of Elections and Ethics after it refused to put that initiative on the ballot. The board ruled that the ballot question would in effect authorize discrimination.

Last year, Washington began issuing marriage licenses for same-sex couples and in 2009, it began recognizing gay marriages performed elsewhere.


By Associated Press

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