Council Votes to Recognize Same-Sex Marriages from States

Already some big news out of the D.C. Council's busy legislative session. In a unanimous preliminary vote, the Council voted today to explicitly recognize same-sex marriages granted by other states, the Post reports. While the District has long recognized domestic partnerships between gay couples, it had not formally recognized such marriages granted in states such as Connecticut or Massachusetts, where same-sex marriage has been legalized. This bill, introduced by At-large Council member Phil Mendelson (D), stops short of legalizing same-sex marriage in the District, but another At-large member, David Catania (I), has long promised that he plans to introduce such a measure before the Council this year.

A final vote in about a month on Mendelson's bill is still necessary, but with today's unanimous approval, its final passage is all but assured. D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty has said he is in favor of legalized same-sex marriage, so there's every reason to think he'll sign it. Whether Congress will put up a fuss is, of course, another matter entirely.