Gay marriage challenge can't go on D.C. ballot

WASHINGTON - A city elections board says opponents of a bill allowing gay marriage in Washington shouldn't be able to put the issue before city voters.

That was the ruling of the District's Board of Elections and Ethics on Friday. The board cited a city human rights law in refusing to allow a referendum on the bill from going forward. The board has cited the law in refusing similar challenges in the past.

Opponents immediately appealed the ruling to the D.C. Superior Court. They asked that the law not go into effect while the court case progresses. The case is the second of two active court cases in D.C. on the gay marriage issue.

The D.C. City Council passed the gay marriage bill in December, but it has not yet gone into effect.

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