With four states now allowing same-sex marriages and a number of others moving in the same direction, the District has jumped on the bandwagon.

In the last two months, the Vermont legislature and the Iowa Supreme Court have followed through on measures to allow same-sex marriages, and the D.C. Council voted unanimously on April 7 to recognize same-sex marriages carried out in other states. Though this is not a final vote, the Council is expected to pass the measure in early May. The U.S. Congress, which houses considerably less support for same-sex marriage, ultimately has the final call in the District’s decision.

D.C., which allows same-sex domestic partnerships, is widely viewed as a liberal and gay-friendly city – it has recently entered the

running to host the 2014 Gay Games, for example, with the backing of Mayor Adrian Fenty.

In 2004, D.C. Attorney General Robert Spagnoletti wrote a memo supporting the recognition of same-sex marriages in D.C. According to The Washington Post, D.C. administrators felt at the time that though the District would support allowing same-sex marriage, Congress would immediately reject such legislation, thereby dealing a symbolic blow to state attempts at permitting same-sex marriage. The D.C. gay community expressed little opposition to the delay, wary of bringing the decision before Congress.

After the elections of a Democratic Congress in 2006 and President Obama in 2008, it’s no surprise the Council voted in favor of recognizing same-sex marriages. The Council’s move is a timely one, and we commend it for its unanimous support.

As the nation’s capital, the District is in a unique position. D.C. naturally attracts individuals from around the country, due to job opportunities and assignments in the federal government and the private sector. The benefits these employees enjoy in their home states should not disappear once they come to the District due to a transfer. With four states already permitting same-sex marriages, and New York, New Jersey, Maine and New Hampshire close behind with legislative support for approval of same-sex marriage, D.C. is right to recognize same-sex marriages from out of state.

Substantial opposition remains, however. Forty-three states have laws prohibiting gay marriages, and 29 constitutionally define marriage as between a man and a woman. The effect of such a reality on Congress’ vote remains to be seen.

To make a difference, write to your congressional representative and tell them to voice their support in favor of the D.C. Council’s decision to recognize same-sex marriages registered outside the District. Congress’ decision on the issue will likely set something of a precedent for individual state legislatures. Without the support of Congress, the District will be limited in its ability to provide benefits to same-sex couples. Moreover, states may be more hesitant to institute these changes after Congress’ decision. The momentum gained by the recent decisions in Vermont and Iowa could be cut short without the backing of Congress for the D.C. Council’s proposed measures.

A nationwide acceptance of gay marriage is not in the immediate future, it seems, but the roles of the D.C. Council and Congress in this movement cannot be underestimated. The District is in the national spotlight and should take its role carefully. Instituting same-sex marriage wholesale in the District is not an immediate goal, but recognition of the increasing number of same-sex marriages occurring elsewhere in the United States is a necessity.

We hope Congress and the rest of the nation recognize the centrality of equal rights in the same-sex marriage debate. If Americans in certain types of relationships are given certain rights and others are denied them, a fundamental injustice exists. We applaud the D.C. Council for recognizing this reality and acting in an effort to change it.

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