"Metropolitan Community Churches worldwide offer our hearty thanks to God and congratulations to the Mayor and City Council of Washington D.C. as Marriage Equality becomes law in the Capital City of the United States of America," said The Rev. Elder Nancy Wilson, Moderator of Metropolitan Community Churches.  On Wednesday morning, 3 March 2010, at 12:00AM, the new marriage equality law became effective.

"Leaders from throughout the community contributed to this amazing success, furthering the cause of Marriage Equality throughout the land," said Pastor Dwayne Johnson of Metropolitan Community Church in Washington, D.C.  Many members of MCC DC played significant roles in making this effort successful, including Clergy Candidate DeWayne Davis who offered testimony before the City Council.

"As a person of faith and a minister, it is my firm belief that legalizing same-sex marriage is the right thing to do," said Mr. Davis.  "It reaffirms this nation's historic commitment to guaranteeing religious freedom while extending and protecting basic civil rights for all."

The City Council overwhelmingly approved the bill and on 18 December 2009, Mayor Adrian Fenty signed the bill into law.

"We look forward to the day," added The Rev. Jim Merritt, Marriage Equality Coordinator for the Moderator's Global Justice Team, "when every jurisdiction across this land will follow the lead of our Capital City and honor America's foundational principle of equality for all."

About Metropolitan Community Churches

Metropolitan Community Church, founded in 1968, is a human-rights movement and ministry operating as a Christian denomination in 25 countries around the world. MCC has often been and continues to be one of few leading advocates for vulnerable people in places where religious orthodoxy, sexism, and homophobia can result in violence and death. MCC's promise is stated in its tagline "Tearing Down Walls. Building Up Hope."

For more information about MCC visit: http://www.mccchurch.org.