Indeed, D.C. has the raw end of the deal. The population of the city, nearly 600,000, is greater than the population of our least populous state, Wyoming. Yet Wyoming has two U.S. senators and a representative, while D.C. is limited to a non-voting delegate in the House. In 1964 they had their first Electoral College representation in a presidential election. They had to fight to get, in 1973, a mayor and a city council.

And the battle wages on. According to Wikipedia:

In 1980, District voters approved the call of a constitutional convention to draft a proposed state constitution, just as U.S. territories had done prior to their admission as states. The proposed constitution was ratified by District voters in 1982 for a new state to be called “New Columbia”. However, the necessary authorization from the Congress has never been granted.

Pursuant to that proposed state constitution, the District still selects members of a shadow congressional delegation, consisting of two shadow Senators and a shadow Representative, to lobby the Congress to grant statehood. These positions are not officially recognized by the Congress. Additionally, until May 2008, the Congress prohibited the District from spending any funds on lobbying for voting representation or statehood.

I just became pro-New Columbian. I believe the U.S. is too invested in the roundness of the number 50. Time to give it up, folks. We could have three rows of 17 stars in the new flag.

Washington, D.C.

• D.C. has had domestic partnership since 1992. As of 2008, D.C. has recognized same-sex marriages from other states as domestic partnerships in D.C. On May 6, 2009, Mayor Fenty signed a bill passed by the D.C. City Council that recognizes marriages from other jurisdictions (like ours!) as marriages in D.C. In July, after a congressional review (as all D.C. law is subject to), it became law. [via Gay and Lesbian Activists' Alliance] Last Tuesday a bill, Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Equality Amendment Act of 2009, was introduced in the City Council. It has enough votes to pass. If congress takes no action to block it within 30 (congressional) days after the mayor signs it, it will become law. [via Huffington Post]
• Domestic partners in D.C. are able to visit each other in the hospital and make medical decisions for incapacitated partners. (DP in D.C. is not limited to same-sex couples–even related people can become DPs in D.C.) [via Wikipedia]
• Same sex couples and single LGBT people may adopt in D.C. [via PBS] Second parent adoption has been tested in appellate court, and the law has been interpreted to permit it. [via NGLTF]
• “Upon receipt of a certified copy of an order of the Court indicating that the sex of an individual born in the District has changed by surgical procedure and that such individual’s name has been changed, the certificate of birth of such individual shall be amended as prescribed by regulation.” [via Janisweb.com]
• Hate crimes laws in D.C. address both sexual orientation and gender identity.
• Non-discrimination laws in D.C. address both sexual orientation and gender identity. [via NGLTF]
• Safe schools laws in D.C. protect students on the basis of both sexual orientation and gender identity. [via GLSEN]

See, there’s another argument for D.C. to become a state–I would have had to visit one site instead of six to get all that info.

Gooooo, New Columbia!

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