Happy news for marriage equality today!! The City Council of Washington DC, the capital of the United States of America, has voted 11-2 to legalize same-sex marriage in the District of Columbia. Barring intrusion by the US Congress (which is highly unlikely to happen), same-sex couples will be able to apply for marriage licenses as early as March 2010!

The Washington, D.C., City Council voted Tuesday to legalize gay marriage in the nation’s capital, handing supporters a victory after a string of recent defeats in Maine, New York and New Jersey. Mayor Adrian Fenty has promised to sign the bill, which passed 11-2, and gay couples could begin marrying as early as March. Congress, which has final say over Washington’s laws, could reject it, but Democratic leaders have suggested they are reluctant to do so. The bill had overwhelming support among council members and was expected to pass, though opponents have vowed to try to get Congress or voters to overturn it. David Catania, who introduced the bill and is one of two openly gay council members, called the bill a ”matter of social justice” before the vote. Two members voted ”I do” when their names came up, and when the vote finished a packed chamber erupted into cheers and clapping. The ”no” votes included former mayor Marion Barry, now a council member. If Congress does not reject the bill, the district will join Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts and Vermont in issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. They will be able to wed in New Hampshire starting in January. Gay marriage supporters have had less success elsewhere recently. Maine voters overturned the state’s same-sex marriage law last month. Earlier this month, the New York state Senate rejected a bill that would have allowed gay couples to marry. And New Jersey’s legislature, which had been working on a same-sex marriage bill, postponed a recent vote when the measure appeared headed for defeat. Tuesday’s vote in the district came after several months of discussion, including two marathon council hearings at which some 250 witnesses testified. Opponents included the Archdiocese of Washington, which said it might have to stop providing adoptions and other services because the law would force it to extend benefits to same-sex couples. But most who testified in this overwhelmingly Democratic city were supporters. Some, teary-eyed, asked the council to let friends, relatives or themselves marry. One man proposed to his partner during his testimony. The law will likely take effect around St. Patrick’s Day in this city of 600,000, which is about 1/17th the size of Rhode Island. Congress has 30 working days to reject it, but that has happened just three times in the past 25 years and appears unlikely in this case.

This is an amazing, amazing day … and we are one step closer to enjoying full marriage equality here in the United States of America. Think about it … our nation’s capital city has come to realize that marriage equality is a right that should be enjoyed by its citizens … and one day, hopefully soon, the rest of the country will come to the same realization. Back in June, New Hampshire successfully legalized same-sex marriage and folks there will begin to marry next month. Yes, there have been set backs but we solider on, press forward and celebrate each new win. We will get there, I know it with every fiber of my being. Thank you Washington DC for joining those who are leading the way towards TRUE marriage equality for all :)

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