DC legalizes Marriage

National Briefs (12/16/09)

WASHINGTON - After suffering setbacks from California to New York, Maine to New Jersey, same-sex marriage supporters got a victory yesterday with the City Council's vote to legalize gay marriage in the District of Columbia.

Gay couples could begin tying the knot in the district as early as March. The only hurdles left to clear are the city's mayor, who has promised to sign the bill, and Congress, which has final say over laws in the nation's capital. The district's nonvoting delegate to Congress, Eleanor Holmes Norton, said she expects no opposition there.

Congress has 30 working days to act on the bill.

If the bill becomes law, the district would 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.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09350/1021207-84.stm#ixzz0Zr6Ct9Ku