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Gay couples can now wed legally in Washington D.C., the law becomes legal effective from Wednesday, March 3, 2010. The law is in favour of an estimated 33,000 adults in the District of Columbia, who identify themselves as gay, lesbian, or bisexual; about 8.1% of the city’s adult population, according to the 2000 U.S. Census Bureau.

The Background: The liberal city:

Washington D.C., lying on the borderline between the liberal North and the conservative South, has always favoured the liberals. The demographics of the city may well explain why half a million people give way for 33,000 gays and lesbians in the city.
Washington D.C.’s Democraphics:

The Population:
– The District Residents: 599,657 people (2009 estimated).
– During Work-week: 1 million
– Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area: 5.3 million people.

(Photo/Picture: A google map showing Washington D.C. and its surrounding Metropolitan area - Northeast Virginia and part of Maryland).

In 2009, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the District’s population at 599,657 residents, because of commuters from the surrounding suburbs, its population rises to over one million during the workweek. The Washington Metropolitan Area, of which the District is a part, has a population of 5.3 million, the ninth-largest metropolitan area in the country.

The community:
African American (Black): 55.6%
White: 36.3%
Asian: 3.1%
American Indian (Native): 0.2%
Hispanics: 8.3%
Others: 4.8%

According to the 2007 American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, the population distribution of Washington, D.C. is 55.6% Black or African American, 36.3% White, 3.1% Asian, and 0.2% American Indian. Individuals from some other race made up 4.8% of the District’s population while individuals from two or more races made up 1.6%. In addition, Hispanics of any race made up 8.3% of the District’s population. There were also an estimated 74,000 foreign immigrants living in Washington, D.C. in 2007.

No Federal Representation:
The citizens of D.C. have no voting representation in the Congress, in the House of Representative, they just have one non-voting delegate. In the Senate, D.C. has no representation, yet D.C. residents and businesses have to pay taxes. In D.C. many motor vehicles have “TAXATION Without Representation” slogan in the license plate.

Washington D.C. Mayor: Adrian Fenty, Party: The Democratic Party.

(Photo/Picture of Washington D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty).

U.S. States allowing same-sex marriages:

The District of Columbia now joins five states — Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont — with a law legalizing same sex marriage.

Much inputs from Washington D.C. Wikipedia

Official website of Washington D.C. government: www.dc.gov

Official website of Washington D.C. Mayor: www.dc.gov/mayor/

On the Net:

Superior Court of the District of Columbia marriage bureau:

http://www.dccourts.gov/dccourts/superior/family/marriage.jsp