Group sues to force D.C. vote on same-sex marriages

Opponents of gay marriage filed a lawsuit in D.C. Superior Court on Wednesday, challenging the city election board’s decision to reject a referendum on recognizing same-sex marriages and saying voters should decide the issue.

The Board of Elections and Ethics announced Monday that calling a voter referendum would violate the city’s Human Rights Act. That let stand the D.C. Council’s May 5 decision that the District will recognize as legal same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions.