D.C. Council members David Catania (I-At-large), Harry Thomas, Jr. (D-Ward 5), and Muriel Bowser (D-Ward 4) celebrated at Long View Gallery Tuesday night. Photo courtesy Renna Communications.

In the wake of Tuesday’s D.C. Council vote to legalize same-sex marriage, supporters celebrated while opponents promised war.

Hundreds of supporters gathered at the Long View Gallery in Shaw last night to celebrate the victory at a party hosted by the Human Rights Campaign. As activists warmly wished each other “Happy Marriage Equality Day,” a number of elected officials made the rounds. Mayor Adrian Fenty briefly stopped by, while D.C. Council Chair Vince Gray joined council members David Catania (I-At Large), Jim Graham (D-Ward 1), Kwame Brown (D-At Large), Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6), Phil Mendelson (D-At Large), Muriel Bowser (D-Ward 4) and Harry Thomas, Jr. (D-Ward 5) in toasting the victory.

In a speech to the crowd, Gray said, “It is a great day for the District. We will always remember December 15 for the action taken to strike a blow for justice.” Graham, one of two gay members of the council, spoke of the importance the vote would have for the city’s youth, especially those struggling with their sexual identity. “Someday you may fall in love, and someday you might be able to marry someone you love,” he said. Thomas, who has publicly discussed how his constituents were divided on the issue, stressed that his vote was made because the “law should be blind.” He also addressed his own upcoming re-election campaign, and the effect his vote would have on it: “Don’t worry about me, cause I’ll be all right.”

Meanwhile, opponents of the measure were far less happy. In the pages of the Washington Post, Ward 5 ANC Commissioner Bob King — who has asked Congress to intervene — pledged a fight. Literally. “God’s war has just started,” he told the paper. The City Paper similarly quoted the Rev. Anthony Evans of Mount Zion Baptist Church, who took an equally aggressive stand. “I’m going to use the full power of the black church to kill this bill. I feel pity for those who voted for this because they have defied the will of God. We have warned them,” he said. This isn’t the first time that same-sex marriage opponents have promised revenge. After the council’s first vote, Bishop Harry Jackson spoke of a “bloodletting” against council members who voted for the measure.

Fenty said he will sign the legislation later this week, after which it will be sent to Congress for a 30-day review period.