D.C.'s Gay Marriage Day last year

At least according to the latest census numbers. The District has 18.1 gay couples per 1,000 households.(Vermont is second, with 8.4 gay couples.) That adds up to 4,822 gay couples in the city. Oddly enough, states with lower rates actually have more gay couples raising children: In North Dakota, where there are only 559 gay couples, 21 percent are raising kids. In D.C., only 9 percent are raising children, which is the lowest number out of all of the jurisdictions listed.

Granted, D.C. is being compared to states, not cities (of cities, San Francisco is the most gay, with 30.25 couples per 1,000 households) so maybe we should just take the numbers as a sign of growing equality: Just like everyone else who can afford to do so, gay couples move to the suburbs to raise their kids.

Photo by Darrow Montgomery

Video Killed the Radio Star: The bad news continues for National Public Radio, as another hidden-camera tape by right-wing provocateur James O'Keefe shows executives were aware of the phony gift O'Keefe's stunt was pretending to pass along to the network. With the federal budget what it is (which is to say, bad, if not quite as bad as D.C.'s), this scandal probably means Congress will try even harder to cut funding to public radio. Which means more fundraising drives on WAMU. On the other hand, that means more chances for tote bags for listeners. -1

Maryland, Why, Maryland: Gay marriage will remain an only-in-D.C. feature of life in the region—Maryland lawmakers killed a bill to allow same-sex marriages in the Old Line State. Maryland courts may recognize same-sex unions performed in the handful of states that allow them, thanks to an opinion issued a few years ago, but supporters had hoped to get a law passed to allow them in the state. That'll have to wait until next year. Feel free to come visit the District, though! -3

Vigilante Parking Justice: Since the new administration took over, some former city officials have moved on to new projects; ex-Mayor Adrian Fenty, for instance, is keeping busy giving speeches, working for an accounting firm, and advocating union busting. Former transportation boss Gabe Klein, however, is busy enforcing traffic regulations. Alerted to cars parked illegally in the 15th Street NW bike lane, Klein went down, snapped a photo, and tweeted it at the agency he used to run. In response, the Department of Transportation issued 15 tickets. +2

Are You Ready for Some Football Lockout?: Maybe a stultifyingly boring mid-century federal office building wasn't the ideal place to try to salvage the next NFL season. Talks at the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service between football owners and the NFL Players Association broke down this afternoon; the union plans to decertify, the first step in what could now become very lengthy legal proceedings before any pro football is played. The bad news: You may have to find something else to do on Sundays this fall. The good news: The Redskins can't lose any games if they're canceled first. -2

Yesterday's Needle rating: 50 Today's score: -4 Friday bonus: +2 Today's Needle rating: 48

Happy Anniversary!: One year ago today, the institution of marriage came under a withering assault here in the District, when same-sex unions were first allowed after the mandatory six-day wait for a license (the law took effect March 3). Or at least, so the forces who want to deny a basic human right to people because of their sexual orientation would have us believe. The actual stats seem to tell a different story: Between March 3, 2009, and March 2, 2010, D.C. issued 3,101 marriage licenses. Between March 3, 2010, and March 2, 2011, D.C. issued 6,604 marriage licenses. Clearly, marriage is under attack. +5

Georgetown Targeted: There was a time when shopping at Target was considered slightly declassé, as if the mere fact that the prices were reasonable meant those who could afford to shop elsewhere should. The recession has, naturally, completely obliterated that notion. Which is why it's not as surprising as it once would have been that Georgetown is now eagerly awaiting the signing of a lease to bring Target to the flagging Georgetown Park Mall. (Bloomingdale's is also on the way, apparently.) West of 31st Street, people will, presumably, still insist on pronouncing the name of the store, "Tar-ZHAY." +2

Time Runs Out: Phone customers have been able to dial 936-1212 for the weather and 844-1212 for the time long enough that the numbers used to be WE6-1212 and TI4-1212 (WE for "weather" and TI for "time," naturally). By June 1, those numbers will be history, as Verizon is pulling the plug on both. There was a bit of a generation gap in Washington City Paper's offices about the matter this morning; those of us who were old enough to care what the weather was in the years before everyone had high-speed Internet or smart phones noticed the news, the others didn't. Actually, we should probably start over—once upon a time, people used to have "landlines," from which they would occasionally dial a phone number to learn the time or the weather, instead of just opening an app. -2

March Sadness: The last 24 hours have not been good for D.C. college basketball teams. On Tuesday night, George Washington washed out of the Atlantic 10 conference tournament, losing 71-59 in overtime to St. Joseph's (as the Philadelphians' hawk mascot flapped on obliviously). This afternoon, Georgetown continued its flailing end to the season, losing to Connecticut 79-62 in the Big East tournament. (Though at least they first got to see rivals Villanova lose an upset last night to the University of South Florida.) Maryland's chance to lose its own first round conference tournament game comes tomorrow, when ACC action kicks off. -3

Yesterday's Needle rating: 42 Today's score: +2 Today's Needle rating: 44

The State of Our Union Is Strong: There's been more talk of seating charts this week in D.C. than there is on the first day of preschool, but with some luck, it'll all come to an end tonight, after President Obama delivers his State of the Union address at the Capitol. Streets around the Hill will be closed for security reasons, and also to prevent members of Congress from fleeing when they realize that sitting next to someone from the other party is intolerable. Buses will be rerouted, too. We still prefer this State of the Union to the televised one. +2

Doom from Above: So far this winter, New York has received approximately 7,000 inches of snow, while the District has barely mustered one. Allegedly, that changes tomorrow; forecasters are getting more and more worked up looking ahead to a weather system that could bring back not-so-fond memories of Snowmageddon, Snowpocalypse, and other named blizzards of yesteryear. (By which we mean, last year.) Confidential to V. Gray on Pennsylvania Avenue: Don't fly out to California tonight! +1

Babyland, Md.: Maryland is known as the Old Line State, apparently because George Washington was fond of its troops, and the Free State, evidently because it dallied in passing laws to enforce Prohibition. Lately, though, the powers-that-be in Annapolis may want to change the name to the For the Love of God Stop Having Your Babies On Our Highways State. For the third time in a week, a woman gave birth on a highway in Maryland, barely a month after another woman delivered on I-270 near Rockville. Perhaps The Wire can come back for a sixth season examining ob/gyn departments in Maryland? +2

Marriage Under Siege: Another day, another demonstration that the only real danger to marriage, since the District passed a law allowing gay and lesbian couples to wed, comes from Republicans in Congress. Rep. Jim Jordan, an Ohio Republican who chairs the über-conservative Republican Study Committee, says he'll push legislation to undo D.C.'s marriage equality law, thereby undoing plenty of happy marriages while doing nothing at all to keep straight couples from divorcing at record rates. The good news? Jordan couldn't possibly get such a bill past Senate Democrats and the White House. The bad news? That won't stop him from trying. -4

Yesterday's Needle rating: 42 Today's score: +1 Today's Needle rating: 43

Meet the New Boss: For an ambitious young House Republican, overseeing the District isn't a terrible gig. You get to tell 600,000 people what to do, without fear of retribution from any voting members of Congress, and without alienating your constituents back home, who don't particularly care what the federal government's doing to a bunch of Washingtonians. Which means Rep. Trey Gowdy of South Carolina could be a new star soon, as he was named today to head the subcommittee that watches D.C. affairs. He's no Jason Chaffetz, but who is? Gowdy's district is one of the most conservative in the Palmetto State, including Greenville and Spartanburg—two cities that don't have a whole lot in common with our own (Spartanburg has about 289,000 people, more than two-thirds of them white). Welcome, boss! -3

Obama Park: One surefire way to irritate Gowdy and the new Republican majority in Congress? Start naming things around town for President Obama. That seems to be what Councilmember Jim Graham has planned, as he reintroduced legislation today to name the park at 14th and Girard streets NW for the president. Graham first tried this in July 2009, a mere six months into Obama's term; then, it was technically illegal, thanks to a provision of the D.C. Code that bars naming things for living people. +1

Ex Post Facto: Don't be alarmed when you pick up Sunday's Kaplan Test Prep Supplement Washington Post. Much of which, if you're one of the dwindling number of locals who get home delivery service, will actually arrive on Saturday. The Post announced new features and formats for its Sunday sections today, including a tabloid-sized Style section that sounds an awful lot like another tabloid packed with information on pop culture and life in the District that you can find around town on Thursdays. But hey, if it means people are actually making money printing newspapers in Washington, we're all for it! +2

Gay Marriage Saved: The institution of same-sex marriage doesn't go back quite as long as the institution of opposite-sex marriage (or, as Carrie Prejean would put it, "opposite marriage"), but like all marriage these days, it, too, was under threat. The danger to D.C.'s same-sex marriages came from the Supreme Court. But fortunately, the court opted not to interfere with the District's marriage equality law today, refusing to take up an appeal by opponents of the law who sought to force a referendum on it. Score it as a rare win for basic fairness and justice. +3

Metro Back in Business: News that Metro's Red Line had trouble this morning shouldn't have surprised anyone; after all, there was an ice storm, and Metro is perfectly capable of having difficulty when it's warm and sunny. This time, an insulator burning on the tracks near Tenleytown slowed service, just in time for commuters arriving two hours later than usual to get stranded. By evening rush hour, things were working as normal again—which is to say, expect delays. -2

Yesterday's Needle rating: 51 Today's score: +1 Today's Needle rating: 52

Jackson has made what seems like every attempt to fight against gay marriage in the District; this is the second time that the Court has rejected this kind of effort from him. (You can read up on Jackson on his website, which is largely free from any information regarding his spats with the courts over gay marriage.)

DCist reports that "the Court, who conferenced on the case, Jackson v. the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics, last Friday, did not comment on the decision according to the Associated Press. Jackson had filed the petition last October, a reaction to a February ban by the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics on human rights-related ballot initiatives. That ban, which outlaws any initiative which would violate the District's Human Rights Act, now can claim the support of the Supreme Court."

Some history on the topic, courtesy of a press release from the Human Rights Campaign:

The Supreme Court’s denial of certiorari today leaves standing a D.C. Court of Appeals decision issued last October that determined the Council acted within its authority when more than thirty years ago it established a requirement that proposed ballot initiatives may not authorize, or have the effect of authorizing, discrimination prohibited by the D.C. Human Rights Act.  The Court further held that an initiative on same-sex marriage would impermissibly permit discrimination against gays and lesbians in the District.

In December 2009, the D.C. Council overwhelmingly passed the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Equality Act of 2009.  The bill was signed by Mayor Adrian Fenty, transmitted to Congress for review and became law on March 3, 2010. The first marriages between same-sex couples were performed less than a week later. Since then hundreds of same-sex couples have been married in D.C.

The Supreme Court's decision confirms that the District can be squarely pro-marriage for everyone, regardless of sexual orientation. If equal rights in this arena make you queasy, look at it this way: Gay marriage can be an economic booster!

Snowed Out: Last winter brought Snowpocalypse, Snowmageddon, and other catchy nicknames for crippling storms. This winter, so far, is bringing near misses. Today's forecast "storm" turns out to be more of the same. Even so, the list of "snow"-related school closings grew throughout the day. And District officials used the snow as an excuse to debut a new, heartstring-tugging ad campaign advising residents to shovel, lest they force mothers to push their kids through traffic. Big winner today: Vince Gray, who proved he's such an effective mayor he can change the weather. Eat your Tweetin' heart out, Cory Booker! +2

Supreme Meddling: Ever since last March, married couples around the nation have known that the fault for any difficulties or arguments they're having lies here in the District, where—per the feverish rants of opponents of marriage equality—the very institution is threatened by the law allowing gay and lesbian couples to wed. The last chance to save all those rocky unions could come next week, when the Supreme Court announces whether it will take up the cause that even Republicans in Congress backed off of, and force D.C. to hold a referendum on the marriage law. We think any institution that needs Antonin Scalia's help to save it is already in enough trouble. -3

Take That, Cornhuskers: And now for another installment of "Completely Meaningless and Arbitrary National Rankings." Education Week declares Maryland the best state in the union for public education; the District comes in 50th. But that's not last place! D.C. beats out Nebraska in the ratings, in which no state actually earned an A grade. We look forward to the sequel to Waiting for 'Superman' that focuses on Nebraska, Waiting for Warren Buffet. -1

Planned Obsolescence: It doesn't feel like all that long ago that the Redskins moved out of RFK Stadium and headed for the greener pastures of what was then known (in tribute to the late Jack Kent Cooke's progeny) Raljon, Md. Now we learn that FedEx Field is halfway to extinction. If the District does somehow talk itself into paying for a new stadium for the wildly successful consistently mediocre team, perhaps the facility can be named the Double Your Budget Deficit Fast Dome? -2

Yesterday's Needle rating: 57 Today's score: -4 Today's Needle rating: 53

The gay marriage law may not have brought much in the way of new revenue for the city or the wedding industry here. But as a step toward equality and justice, it's pretty significant. Now the law has survived both a threatened challenge from conservatives in Congress and a lawsuit—looks like it may be here to stay.

In other news: The Washington Times reports that supporters of charter schools may sue if Mayor Adrian Fenty doesn't raise the city's current per-pupil allocation. The Examiner opines about the silly Arizona boycott. The D.C. Court of Appeals considers gay marriage, according to AP. And Kennedy Center nabs a big $22.5 million donation, says WaPo.

Expect cooler breezes to break through this awful humidity. Gradually.

Gay marriage: Repubs want to scratch it
Amendment: They tried to attach it
The "big fucking deal"
Rejected their zeal
Since Dems had the votes to dispatch it

I'm hearing the soundbite already
Enrollment in schools is quite steady
The first time in years
They've calmed parents' fears
(Or private school fees are too heady?)

Some places can now safely boast
That citizens like them the most
A dive, you are cravin'?
Head out to The Raven
It's best for a PBR toast

This cephalopod needs a name
To bring it attention and fame
With Tai Shan departed
The zoo's brokenhearted
And Octy's their number one game

This week was a sign of our times
And needs something more than mere rhymes
So check out these shots
Of folks tying knots
Imagine those wedding bell chimes...

If I played it cool, I'd be lying
I'm stoked that this rumor is flying
Colicchio speaks:
They film in mere weeks
Is D.C. the place where they're frying?

St. Patrick, I'm sure, would be proud
That briefly these things are allowed
To all D.C. fogies
Select your best stogies
And smoke with a nice Irish crowd

Rick A. Imirowicz and Terrance Heath, March 9

Morning!

First, a mini roundup: Washington Post readers don't like pictures of gay men kissing ("please don’t shove this 'Gay' business in our face"; "I will be glad when your rag goes out of business. Real men marry women"; "disturbing"). Former representative Eric Massa (D-N.Y.) has some splainin' to do (it's not every day you can Google "tickling" and come up with a breaking news story). And Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson and his betrothed, DCPS Chancellor Michelle Rhee, are not Romeo and Juliet.

Now to the question of the week: Should Georgetown secede?

Discussion after the jump.

Carol Joynt, a writer and former TV producer who's behind the weekly talk show "The Q&A Cafe" and is the former owner of the now closed Nathans, threw that doozy out there this week on her blog, saying:

This isn't as much a question against the city as it is a question  for Georgetown. Its worth forming a panel to explore the idea and also inviting public debate. Reason one is that DC's not going to get home rule. I just don't see it happening. Why should we wait around, caving into powerlessness, when we could come together to create a governing body that helps to improve the quality of living right here where we live?

We could be the City of Georgetown or the Town of Georgetown. Regardless, have our own mayor, our own council, our own police force (on some streets we already do), our own public school system, contract out – like DC does – for a lot of the utility work (think: plowing snow), our own parking enforcement, our own ABC Board, and use our local tax dollars for Georgetown's own needs. We already provide a local bus system.

If you think about it, it makes sense. If you live in Georgetown, how much of the management of the city government relates to you in a positive way? How many city government decisions are made with Georgetown even remotely in the equation?

Anyone from any other D.C. neighborhoods want to answer that?

The Georgetown Metropolitan weighed in with some interesting history. Turns out there's precedent for this, and I'm not talking about the Southern states or Quebec. In 1838, Georgetown residents wrote a motion to request "retrocession" of all D.C. land west of Rock Creek. And the motion passed! And then some folks went to Annapolis, where it also seemed like a good idea! And then Congress pissed on it!

GM's Topher Matthews says, perhaps needlessly, that Joynt's suggestion is "totally ridiculous and never going to see the light of day. There is no way the government of the District or Congress would approve. And if there’s one thing that can get the rest of the District to hate Georgetown more, it would be to agitate for secession."

And Joynt more or less agrees:

I'm a realist. I know this won't happen. But I like the debate. It reminds everyone on the inside and outside of our "borders" that Georgetown is a village and the residents can be engaged in civic activism. We're not passive, but we get distracted. Too much of our focus is directed at the not always attractive commercial development of M Street, when its important to look at and nurture every nook and cranny of the commercial and residential areas.

But that's not the good part.

As for whether "secession" would further dispossess the dispossessed, I always look to Marion Barry. He treats his ward like it is a city and that he's its mayor and their needs come before all others. Say what you will about him, he looks out for his flock. He fights for what they need, what they deserve. Its the same with Ward 1's Jim Graham.

Wait, did she just say Georgetown needs someone like Marion Barry?

Photo by sylvester75117, Creative Commons Attribution License

And as for dessert with two S's
Free cupcakes for those who said yeses
Congressional stalling
(While mostly appalling)
Has rarely produced such successes!

Smithsonian folks, so astute
Said thanks-but-no-thanks on the suit
The press release brevity
Made for some levity
And others are wanting that loot...

And then there's the Pentagon shooter
Big news! The guy used a computer!
From this, we deduce
Some screws were quite loose
T'was not just your av'rage commuter

We spoke with some newlyweds, including two women who didn't know gay marriage hadn't been legal in the District until yesterday morning.

Later, protesters turned on each other when Pastor Rob Schenck was shouted down by a man who didn't realize that Schenck, too, opposed gay marriage.

Observe:

Related: “It’s an Abomination”: 11-Year-Old Westboro Baptist Protests Gay Marriage in D.C.