D.C. Council Approves Gay Marriage

By Patrick Madden

A measure legalizing same-sex marriage in D.C. is now headed to Mayor Adrian Fenty for his signature. The D.C. Council overwhelmingly approved the bill, but it will still need to survive congressional review. For openly gay councilman Jim Graham, the vote represented the "final prize."

"Today we say we want to express our love for each other. We want a public ceremony. We want a certificate of marriage," Graham says.

Opponents of gay marriage say they are not backing down.

"We want to stop this thing by whatever means necessary," says Bishop Harry Jackson, pastor of a church in Beltsville Maryland.

He says he will file a referendum request later today to put the issue before voters and overturn the measure. Jackson says he will also lobby members of Congress to step in and block the bill.

Congressional intervention is also one of the preventatives to domination of the people by the city council, Jackson said.

But councilman David Catania, who crafted the bill and is openly gay, says he is ready for that fight.

"Even if we are defeated or frustrated on the Hill, we will get up the next day and push the boulder up the hill," Catania said.

He says gay marriage in the District is a question of when, not if.