Washington D.C. legalizes same-sex marriage

Same-sex couples can start applying for marriage licenses today in the District of Columbia.  The marriage bureau expects as many as 200 additional couples to line up for marriage applications today; there is already a line forming outside the building, which does not open for another five minutes. The same-sex marriage law was introduced in the 13-member D.C. Council in October and had almost unanimous support from the beginning. The bill passed and D.C. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty signed it in December.  The law had to undergo a congressional review period that expired Tuesday paving the way for the District to begin accepting applications this morning.  Couples who apply today will have to wait until March 9th to have their ceremony due to a mandatory waiting period.  D.C. is only the sixth place in the country where same-sex marriages can be legally performed; the other are Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont.

source