"This is a national issue as you all know. And while I found that the decision today in California was depressing, we have the ability here in the Nation's Capital to take back the momentum; not only with the legislation that we've passed to recognize marriages adopted in other jurisdictions (including the 18,000 in California), but to take it further, and to recognize that soon same-sex marriages in the District of Columbia. We may not be the first in the country -- we'll be number 6 or 7 or 8 -- but we'll be there as the Nation's Capital. The whole country is going to see us. And they're going to have to deal with us because this is a national issue. A national issue about civil rights, about equality, about basic human rights.... We're not going to sit back, or be knocked down because of California, but we're going to keep the momentum going!"

Phil Mendelson, Washington, DC City Councilchairperson at Large, appearing at a rally in Dupont Circle is support of same-sex marriages. Mendelson has been a strong leader on the issue, and the City Council voted in favor of recognizing gay marriages that have been performed legally in other states. More than a couple hundred people came to the nighttime demonstration at the gay-favorite park in the drizzling rain. (MetroWeekly via YouTube)