What an unexpected but lovely surprise. The D.C.  Council unanimously voted today to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states.

Gay council member David A. Catania and Mayor Adrian Fenty responded to the decision in the Washington Post…

Catania: “I feel really heartened by this vote … I am obviously proud to be a part of the legislature of this city. I fully expect if we go forward, when we go forward, on marriage equality we will have a super-majority in support of it.”

Fenty: “I fully support today’s action and look forward to signing the legislation once the Council takes final action next month.”

Rea Carey, Executive Director National Gay and Lesbian Task Force also praised today’s vote…

“We commend the D.C. Council’s vote. It marks another step toward the full recognition of same-sex couples, their families and their lives. We urge the council to affirm today’s action during its final vote on the bill, and call upon Mayor Adrian Fenty to then sign this important legislation. It is our hope that Congress will ultimately respect the District of Columbia’s passage of a just measure that will provide fair recognition of our relationships.

Tony Perkins, President of the Family Research Council which is based in Washington, D.C. opposed the decision:

“Same-sex ‘marriage’ is a movement driven by wealthy homosexual activists and a liberal elite determined to destroy not only the institution of marriage, but democracy as well. Time and again, we see when citizens have the opportunity to vote at the ballot box, they consistently opt to support traditional marriage.”

“The vote today by the D.C. City Council was a direct affront to the federal Defense of Marriage Act. The radical Left wants to destroy the traditional union of one man and one woman across the country and they will not rest until they do so.

What’s is ultimately so wonderful about this decision is that it will force Congress to deal with the issue of gay marriage much earlier than expected, as the District’s laws are subject to their approval.

We’ll soon see if  marriage equality extends all the way to the Oval Office.

The Vermont legislature made it official today! By a 23-5 margin in the Senate, and a 100-49 margin in the House, legislators overturned Governor Jim Douglas’ veto this morning, making Vermont the 4th state to legalize gay marriage.

Perhaps the comment below from a reader of the Burlington Free Press sums up the feelings of gay marriage opponents…

A sad, sad day for the state of Vermont. I am so ashamed of Vermont I never want to admit I grew up and lived there for over 50 years. I moved out of Vermont for economic reasons several years ago, always knowing I’d be back. But NEVER to that liberal cesspool ! The filthy perverts and leftist fools that run the state are welcome to it.

I think Vermont will be just fine without you.

Iowa Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal spoke eloquently today when he refused to co-sponsor legislation that would repeal Iowa’s newly decided marriage equality bill.

Minority leader Paul McKinley who offered the new legislation to ban gay marriage accused Gronstal of “pure obstruction,” while former state legislator Chuck Hurley, who is now president of the Iowa Family Policy Center had this to say:

“He is denying 2.1 million Iowans of voting age of the right to vote on an issue of great importance to 550,000 schoolchildren … Mike Gronstal needs to humble himself and listen to the people.”

Sorry, a little bit behind on the news today… A new job will do that to you.

Republican Vermont governor James Douglas has vetoed the gay marriage bill that recently passed both legislative houses. From his office…

“This legislation does not address the inequalities espoused by proponents. Regardless of whether the term marriage is applied , federal benefits will still be denied to same sex couples in Vermont. And states that do not recognize same sex marriage or civil unions will also deny state rights and responsibilities to same sex couples married in Vermont. This bill will not change that fact.

Vermont’s civil union law has afforded the same state rights, responsibilities and benefits of marriage to same sex couples. Our civil union law serves Vermont well and I would support congressional action to extend those benefits at the federal level to states that recognize same sex unions. But I believe that marriage should remain between a man and a woman.”

From WCAX in Vermont…

The Senate is expected to override the veto tomorrow morning. It is unclear what the House will do, and is currently shy the two thirds majority required to override the veto. The 11 Democrats who originally voted against the bill now support it, unhappy that the governor announced his intent to veto the bill before they had passed it.