Testing the waters

While Vermont was getting a lot of attention for legalizing gay marriage the District of Columbia took an important step. The city council took a preliminary vote to permit recognition of same-sex marriages performed elsewhere. The official vote will come next month. This is why it is important: Congress has 30 days after the official vote to override it. Overrides don't happen all that often, but there is precedent. Congress could do nothing, or they could use it as an opportunity to say they are (or aren't) willing to overturn the Defense of Marriage Act. D.C. isn't about to approve gay marriages being performed there, only recognizing marriages performed elsewhere.