Andy Hertzberg's Marriage Proposal Interrupts D.C.'s Same-Sex Marriage Hearing (VIDEO)

In round two of the D.C. Council hearings on marriage equality, a gay couple took their relationship to the next level. For his testimony to the panel, Andrew Hertzberg popped the big question.

"I would like to take a huge step in my own life," Hertzberg said. "Andy Rollman, I'd like to ask you: Will you marry me?"

Most council members approved of the gesture and offered congratulations, ABC 7's Sam Ford reported. But those there to testify against gay marriage weren't as supportive. Barbara Morgan, a gay marriage opponent, called the proposal a lack of respect.

Nearly 270 people signed up to speak before the panel, with most witnesses in favor of gay marriage, Ford reported.

WATCH the proposal here:

Comments

[Joan Jacobs]

I still don't understand why people are so afraid of same-sex marriage. Unless you view procreation as the ONLY reason to marry, why should what happens in other people's bedroom matter so much to you? In fact, given that Republican­/Conservat­ives claim to be the party in favor of less government interference in our lives, why should the government weigh in on this at all. What difference should it make to the government who's involved in the marriage? The laws that govern the institution and protect those who opt for it can be applied to any combination of genders.

If an individual religious body (or cleric) feels that same-sex marriage violates their principals - they are more than welcome to refuse to perform the service. Personally, I view marriage as a commitment made between 2 people who want to share their lives - but that's just me. Were I to enter into such a union, I certainly would not expect a Catholic priest to perform the ceremony - but I see no reason why the state (Justice of the Peace) shouldn't do it.

Just my opinion

[PhilipB]

Lack of respect?
When is deciding to create a life with someone disrespectful? to Whom? How is love and commitment anything but respect?
Barbara Morgan is way out uot line, and her hate and discrimination will always live on for eternity as mean spirited and prejudiced.
You know, the people who spoke out against civil rights and by history, and interracial marriage are seen as backwards and hateful, and the people who work towards human rights, dignity and love are celebrated as models to emulate.

[floridalib]

We will tell stories about these sad days later, just like the civil rights leaders still talk about the german shephards and fire hoses in Alabama. Equality should be given in this country, not earned through a ballot box.

[PhilipB]

So well said. Fanned.
Thank you SO MUCH for standing for me and my family. I cannot even begin to express my thanks. I suppose when you have a family real discrimination and injustice means a lot.
Warm regards,
Philip

[msbadger]

And... I have not seen anyone referencing the recent refusal of that Louisiana JP to marry a bi-racial couple. Finally he resigned. They weren't gay. There is NO acceptable discrimination! Consenting adults should be allowed to marry whomever wants to marry them too. And for Calirighty et al- Maybe we just don't believe in the same God. In fact, I'm sure I don't believe in your version of God. Just get over it. This is America. (STILL!)

[billy goat]

If I was being proposed to on national tv, Ida got a hair cut!

[RJPCambridge]

They both look very nice --- you however sound like a jerk however.

[PhilipB]

oh stop! I mean, an expression of love to commit for your life and you say that?
What kind of person are you?
You have no compassion or sense of human love and dignity.
Get a haircut, indeed. I mean, really!

[Pupadup4oBama]

Well then maybe the churches SHOULD lose their tax exempt status. THAT'S what they are afraid of.
Sheesh!

Congrats to the happy couple...I wish them well, and hope they can be just as miserable as the rest of us...:)
HA! KIDDING!
Love you honey, wherever you are...:)

[weatherwaxx]

The government should enforce the laws already on the books about removing exemptions from churches that attempt to influence politics.

Here's a cute one: Catholic bishops are urging every Catholic in the country to contact their legislators, telling them to alter current health care legislation to include anti-choice amendments. Every Catholic in the country. 60 million people. The Catholic bishops have inserted letters into church bulletins, and asked priests to include their call to action in their sermons — and even in their prayers — during Sunday services.

Now, my personal feeling is that when churches start trying to force their beliefs on everyone in the country, that's violating separation of church and state, and they should start paying taxes.

Planned Parenthood has a site set up to help voters contact Congressional Representatives and Senators and remind them that the US Congress doesnt' take orders from Rome.

http://www.ppaction.org/campaign/hcr09ccbr

[LeaderofMen]

Once again, religious folks use fear as their main motivator.

[lazercat2008]

God is not pleased.

[Yeah-Me]

Cool.. you have a direct link to the "Big Guy" in the sky?

[weatherwaxx]

Well, they're all out of ideas in the truth, fairness, and compassion categories--what have they got left?

[Liberal Angel]

That was so cute. I hope they have a huge wedding. But that woman who was outraged was out of line. How is there "a lack of respect" to propose publicly to the one you love? What a t.o.o.l!

[lazercat2008]

So, I guess we should end that kissing and proposing on the big screen thing at baseball games too.

[PhilipB]

Wow, you really hate gay people. Why is that?

[weatherwaxx]

Those two women.... Robin Wilson's body language is interesting -- completely blocked off, don't-make­-me-consid­er-my-prec­onceptions­.

Barbara Morgan... Good grief. Thirty years ago, there would be people rioting in the streets if that white man had proposed to HER. It would be funny if it weren't so sad.

[Nussbaum13]

Churches should not be tax exempt anyway.

[legaleagle 45]

Good luck getting that passed. Any party that supports it would be unelectable next election cycle.

[weatherwaxx]

All they have to do is enforce tax regulations already on the books. Churches aren't supposed to operate as politicial entities.

[Nussbaum13]

A lack of respect? Are you kidding me? Talk about projection­...

[Pupadup4oBama]

If this had been a young man proposing to his girlfriend I'm sure she would have thought it was sweet

[lazercat2008]

From the "And they had a problem with Kids singing an Obama Song?" files.

Bradlee Dean of You Can Run But You Cannot Hide ministries in Annandale, a group that brings its message of Christianity and morality into public high schools, slammed the passing of the hate crimes bill on his Saturday radio show, the School of Hard Knocks Roxxs.

http://minnesotaindependent.com/48384/religious-right-hate-crimes-bill-part-of-obamas-radical-anti-christian-agenda

[lazercat2008]

Just some of the consequences of gay rights.

Imposition of “gay marriage” by the courts, through appeal to a federal civil liberties category of “sexual orientatio­n.”

— Fines or closure of Christian camps and retreat centers that do not allow their facilities to be used by persons or groups for homosexual activities.

— Fines for landlords who refuse to rent to homosexual persons or couples.

— Loss of charitable status for churches that seek to influence their members to oppose pro-homosexual legislation or that refuse to marry homosexual couples.

http://www.mfc.org/contents/article.cfm?id=1521

[elaygee]

next we're going to remove your tax exempt bigotry too.

[legaleagle 45]

lazercat wrote: "Fines or closure of Christian camps and retreat centers that do not allow their facilities to be used by persons or groups for homosexual activities­."

Highly unlikely. Under present authority, private groups do not have to open their doors to others... they are generally allowed to discriminate if they so choose and such action is protected by the 1st Amend

lazercat wrote: " Fines for landlords who refuse to rent to homosexual persons or couples."

That is certainly a possibility.

lazercat wrote: "Loss of charitable status for churches that seek to influence their members to oppose pro-homosexual legislation or that refuse to marry homosexual couples."

If their efforts are confined to thier membership, then this is unlikely as the charitable status of churches is engrained in our system. Application of such a law would necessarily have to be content neutral, thus any attempt to "punish" churches which are not gay friendly would thereby become applicable to all churches who attempt to influence membership on any political issue... which is just about everything and all churches would lose their status. Although many of this board would not be upset with such a possibility, the pragmatic result is that it "aint going to happen".

[LeaderofMen]

Lies. All of them. Try again.

[lazercat2008]

He's not lying, this guy is paid by taxpayers to talk to High Schools in Minnesota. He is a personal friend of Michelle Bachmann.

[legaleagle 45]

LeaderofMen wrote: "Lies. All of them. Try again."

Disagree..­.. The landlord bit is a definite possibility.

The others are fantasy.

[Igor13]

And those are bad things????????

[billy goat]

Tough!!!

[lazercat2008]

I want you to listen to me carefully,” he said. “America, as this is being passed again against the majority, I guarantee you that judgments are going to increase in our country… When you begin to pass laws against what God’s words say, God promises to turn that nation into hell that forgets him and if you want to go ahead play the Lord on a national level… Folks, just sit back because it’s only beginning right now.”

Dean repeatedly called gays and lesbians criminals, a familiar theme on his show. The bill, he said, is “there to protect the homosexuals that are perpetrating crimes against the righteous, and you need to understand that Obama’s calling for the decriminalization of homosexuality and he is calling for the criminalization — without saying it — of you.”

http://minnesotaindependent.com/48384/religious-right-hate-crimes-bill-part-of-obamas-radical-anti-christian-agenda

[LeaderofMen]

America is not anyone's private church. Our laws are secular. No gods will be present during the passage any of this legislation. None.

Indeed, an all-powerful god can't stop this?

Not so all-powerful.

[weatherwaxx]

The assumption that *decriminializing* one group automatically *criminalizes* another is a remarkable bit of doublethink, too. It's tantamount to saying that repealing Prohibition suddenly criminalized teetotalers. Ludicrous.

[weatherwaxx]

Sorry, Sunshine, I don't subscribe to your rather pathetic and h8-filled religious notions.

And neither, I suspect, did Jesus.

[lazercat2008]

Think of the children. Oh, that's right.

[weatherwaxx]

The children -- who are, statistically, 90% heterosexual and 10% gay or lesbian -- as God presumably created them.

[complice]

Yeah, given your handle I just wondered. It's cool.