WASHINGTON - The D.C. Council on Tuesday unanimously passed a measure that would recognize same-sex marriages performed outside of the District of Columbia, and supporters say it's the first step toward allowing gay marriages in the District.

At-Large D.C. Councilman Phil Mendelson introduced the amendment to a pre-existing bill Tuesday. The amendment was signed by all 13 D.C. Council members. Mayor Adrian Fenty released a statement saying he will sign it.

"I'm trying to downplay how revolutionary this is, because I don't think it is revolutionary," Mendelson said. "We are simply making clear the law in the District that we will recognize what other states have done."

The council's action provoked mixed reaction on the streets of D.C.

"I think it's great, I think it really shows we've progressed as a country," said Marie Sylla. "I think it's wonderful what the city council's done."

But Cory Dykstra opposes the measure. "I don't want one state to be able to say you can get married here when other states don't recognize it, that's kind of like a catch-22," he said.

For Sharon Debose, the issue is clear. "Marriage is between a man and a woman and I don't agree with same-sex marriages," she said.

The Family Research Council criticized the amendment. Peter Sprigg, the FRC's vice-president for policy said, "This is kind of a trojan horse for the same-sex marriage agenda, if you will."

The measure would not allow gay marriages to be performed in the District. But At-Large Councilman David Catania lauded the vote as "the march toward human rights and equality." Catania (I) said he plans to introduce a bill allowing same-sex marriage in the District by later this spring or this summer.

"I intend to go forward with full marriage equality," Councilman Catania later told ABC 7 News. "But this is an important step along the way, it's a historic day in the District."

The vote came just hours after the Vermont legislature legalized gay marriage, joining Massachuetts, Connecticut, and Iowa, which began issuing same-sex marriage licenses in the past week.

If the measure becomes law, D.C. would join New York and Rhode Island in recognizing same-sex marriages performed in other states. California's marriage laws remain under judicial review.

Gay couples married in other states are currently recognized as domestic partners when they move to Washington.

The amendment was attached to the Disclosure to the United State District Court Amendment Act of 2009. The bill, which was also approved, must pass a second vote on May 5 before it would be sent to Mayor Fenty. The bill would also have to pass congressional review.

The legislation states: "A marriage legally entered into in another jurisdiction between 2 persons of the same sex that is recognized as valid in that jurisdiction, that is not expressly prohibited by [other sections of D.C. law], shall be recognized as a marriage in the District."

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