It didn’t get as much attention as the Vermont legislature’s veto override, but yesterday the Washingotn, D.C. city council passed and Mayor Adrian Fenty signed a bill requiring the district to recognize same-sex marriages performed in states where marriage is so defined. That means that D.C. residents could travel to Massachusetts, Iowa, or Vermont, marry, and have their marriages recognized when they return.

David Catania, a Republican-turned-independent city council member, plans to introduce legislation to cover same-sex marriages performed within the District. Catania left the GOP at least in part of then-President Bush’s (nominal) support for a federal marriage amendment. It will be interesting to see how Congress, which has the ultimate lawmaking power over the federal district, will react. Many Democratic leaders will be sympathetic to the District’s moves, others will be opposed — and many more will be reluctant to be seen as supportive of same-sex marriage back home.