Rep. Jason Chaffetz introduces the District of Columbia Referendum on Marriage Act of 2010

On January 12th, a 30-day period of review began for Congress to consider whether it should repeal D.C.'s Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Equality Amendment Act of 2009 [engrossed version]. On January 13th, Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz introduced legislation that would require D.C. to suspend "any contrary provision" of its Human Rights Act, so that D.C. citizens could vote on an initiative or a referendum on same-sex marriage. Allies of Stand4Marriage DC Coalition are still trying to have the D.C. Elections Board revisit the issue, even though the Board has twice decided that a referendum or initiative would violate the Human Rights Act, and the D.C. Superior Court has upheld its decisions. Chaffetz told Desseret News that his is a symbolic gesture. "I'm convinced that traditional marriage wins when it's up for a vote," Chaffetz said. "Thirty-one times in a row when it has come up for a vote in the states, traditional marriage has always won."

D.C. Metro Weekly also reports on Chaffetz's legislation.