A tender Washington Post profile of the very first D.C. same-sex couple to apply for a marriage license sets the stage for a historic day in the nation’s capital.  Angelisa Young and Sinjoyla Townsend will marry at about 10 am at the Human Rights Campaign headquarters building.  HRC will be live streaming the first legal marriages here, where viewers can also send the couples notes of congratulations.

Openly gay D.C. City Council member David Catania, who was instrumental in enacting the new marriage law, will be honored for his efforts at the Victory Fund’s 10th annual Champagne Brunch on April 18th at the Mayflower Hotel.

Though many helped achieve full marriage equality in the District of Columbia, openly gay D.C. City Councilman David Catania deserves special recognition for helming a strategy that won the support of an overwhelming majority of his council colleagues, the city’s mayor and even Congressional leaders.  The Victory Fund will honor Catania at its 10th annual Champagne Brunch on Sunday, April 18th, at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington.  Special guest speakers at the event include Congressman Barney Frank and Houston Mayor Annise Parker.

The room is about 75% sold, and tickets are going fast.  Reserve yours today here.  All proceeds benefit the Victory Fund, which works to change politics in America by electing openly LGBT candidates to public office at all levels of government.

The Washington Post reports that today the Washington, D.C. city council will vote on the final approval of a bill recognizing marriage equality inside the district.  There is little resistance expected, following the 11-2 preliminary victory on the first of December.

The Post quoted out councilmember David Catania, who is the chief sponsor of the bill, about what this victory means for marriage in DC:

“We are on the verge of history,” council member David A. Catania (I-At Large), the lead sponsor of the bill, told about 350 same-sex marriage supporters at a pre-vote rally Monday night in Shaw. “For the world to see gays and lesbian couples equal to straight couples in the nation’s capital, that is an important message.”

For those who need to see it before they believe it, item V.1. on today’s council agenda.

Having garnered 10 co-sponsors, the Washington, D.C. marriage equality bill added one more supporter in a vote Tuesday, passing the first of two necessary votes 11-2. The District of Columbia City Council’s preliminary marriage equality vote constitutes the greatest consensus ever to occur in favor of marriage equality.  Marriage equality bills passed in New England typically did so with the slimmest of margins and tremendous controversy.

The vote was also a major victory for out councilmember David Catania, who wrote and sponsored the legislation.  At public hearings where hundreds of supporters and opponents lined up to be heard, including representatives from anti-gay groups such as the National Organization for Marriage, Catania often stepped up to correct anti-gay advocates when they needed to be corrected.

The Associated Press picked up the story immediately:

WASHINGTON — In the first of two votes on allowing same-sex marriage in the nation’s capital, the District of Columbia City Council has passed the bill 11 to 2.

The D.C. Council voted for the first time Tuesday. The bill has been expected to pass, as 10 of the 13 council members co-sponsored its introduction. A second, final vote is expected for later in the month, and D.C.’s mayor has promised to sign the bill.

Marriages would begin in the city as soon as the bill passes a period of Congressional review. Congress likely will not alter the law.

A committee of the District of Columbia City Council today approved a bill that would establish legal marriage for same-sex couples who live in the nation’s capital, according to the Washington Post.  The measure, which was introduced by openly gay Council member David Catania, now goes to the full Council for a vote.  ”We will get this to the mayor and Congress and it will become law,” said Council member Jack Evans (D-Ward 2).