Washington, D.C. Council Votes Unanimously to Recognize Out of State Gay Marriages

On the same day as the historic passage of Vermont's gay marriage legislation, the D.C. Council voted 12-0 to approve a measure that will provide for the recognition in D.C. of same-sex marriages performed by other states. Council member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) stated to the Washington Post that the amendment is simply a matter of "basic fairness," a notion that was apparently echoed this afternoon by his fellow Council members.

According to CNN, the Council plans to hold a final vote on May 5. The measure would then go to Mayor Adrian Fenty, who supports gay marriage. The final step, and a major hurdle, would then be review and vote by the US Congress, which has the final say on any DC legislation.