With one of the two votes down and in favor of gay marriage, the Washington DC City Council is expected to take up the second and final vote on Tuesday, December 15, 2009.

Advocates are cautiously optimistic that gay marriage will become legal in DC, which already recognizes same-sex marriages performed in states where they are legal.

As expected, the Catholic Church is lobbying hard against the bill, having already threatened to curtail the services they provide to the homeless in the city.  If gay marriage does pass in the city, the church wants stronger religious protections built-in to the legislation.

The gay marriage bill — which has enjoyed majority support in the City Council — was drafted and introduced by David Catania, an openly gay councilman.

All legislation in DC goes through a 30 day Congressional review, but it is expected to sail through without any problems as many suspect that this is hot button issue that Congress is not going to want to take up.  After a bill becomes active it takes a joint resolution by Congress that is signed by the President in order to overturn it.

Tags: Catholic Church, Congress, Gay Marriage, Gay Rights, Washington DC