30+ House Reps Introduce DC DOMA

Two Democrats and about 30 Republican House members have co-sponsored a Defense Of Marriage Act for Washington DC in response to the DC City Council's recent vote to recognize same-sex marriages from other states.

A Republican-led group of lawmakers wants to define marriage in the District of Columbia as between a man and a woman. The group introduced a bill in the House on Thursday, hoping to thwart a city council vote this month recognizing same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions. Five states — Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts and Vermont — allow gay marriage. Congress, which has final say over laws in the nation's capital, has until July to act against the district measure. Otherwise, it automatically becomes law. Some council members have said the legislation is the first step toward eventually allowing gay marriage in Washington.

With a Democratic majority in the House, the bill will face stiff opposition.