(a) Marriage is the legally recognized union of 2 persons. Any person may enter into a marriage in the District of Columbia with another person, regardless of gender, unless the marriage is expressly prohibited by § 46-401.01 or § 46-403.
(b) Where necessary to implement the rights and responsibilities relating to the marital relationship or familial relationships, gender-specific terms shall be construed to be gender neutral for all purposes throughout the law, whether in the context of statute, administrative or court rule, policy, common law, or any other source of civil law.
(Mar. 3, 1901, 31 Stat. 1391, ch. 854, § 1283; as added Mar. 3, 2010, D.C. Law 18-110, § 2(b), 57 DCR 27.)
This section is referenced in § 32-702.
Structure District of Columbia Code
§ 46–401. Equal access to marriage
§ 46–401.01. Marriages void ab initio — In general
§ 46–402. Marriages void ab initio — Judicial decree
§ 46–403. Marriages void from date of decree; age of consent
§ 46–404. Persons allowed to institute annulment proceedings
§ 46–405. Illegal marriages entered into in another jurisdiction
§ 46–405.01. Recognition of marriages from other jurisdictions
§ 46–406. Persons authorized to celebrate marriages
§ 46–407. Celebration of marriage by unauthorized persons. [Repealed]
§ 46–408. Celebration of marriage without license. [Repealed]
§ 46–409. Issuance of license — Waiting period. [Repealed]
§ 46–410. Issuance of license — Duty of Clerk; false swearing by applicant deemed perjury
§ 46–411. Consent of parent or guardian
§ 46–412. Form of license; return; coupons
§ 46–413. Failure to make return
§ 46–415. Issue of marriages of colored persons. [Repealed]
§ 46–416. Public inspection and examination of applications
§ 46–416.01. Social security numbers to be filed with application
§ 46–417. Premarital blood tests; statement regarding test to be filed with application. [Repealed]
§ 46–418. Waiver of certain requirements. [Repealed]
§ 46–419. Financial inability to pay for blood test or required statement [Repealed]