According to an article published by the Washington Blade, legislation which makes permanent the mayor’s LGBT Affairs office has passed the Washington DC City Council and has been signed by the mayor.

According to the article:

His decision to sign the bill, introduced by gay Councilmember Jim Graham (D-Ward 1), put to rest a dispute between Williams and the Council in which the mayor initially opposed the legislation on grounds that it would interfere with his authority to pick the leader of the office.

Williams created the office by executive order two years ago.

Some LGBT activists and politicaly involved citizens didn’t like the idea of having an office for LGBT people in a city where LGBT citizens have gained some political influence. Another argument used against the creation of the office was that LGBT citizens already had secure channels within the City Government in which their views, issues and concerns could be heard.

A small but influential LGBT group, the Gay and Lesbian Acitivists Alliance opposed the group saying that it would become a “patronage plum for an incumbent mayor and would have little impact on the needs of the gay community.”

Technorati Tags: gay affairs, gay, lgbt, gay rights, washington dc