WASHINGTON - The District Council voted 12-1 Tuesday to legally recognize same-sex marriages performed elsewhere in a day that drew dozens of supporters and opponents of the measure.

An overflow crowd filled city hall ahead of the vote, and more than 100 opponents from churches in the Washington region held a rally across the street on Freedom Plaza. Among them was the Rev. Derek McCoy from the Hope Christian Church in Beltsville, Md.

"Once you redefine marriage, you redefine family," he said.

Many opponents cast the debate in religious terms.

"This is a spiritual moral issue for us and so we will continue to fight based on what we believe God has given us to do," said Andrew Austin-Dailey.

Raymond Bell expressed his concern that recognizing same-sex marriages performed elsewhere would lead to legalizing the performance of same-sex marriages in the District. "It's a slippery slope if we start recognizing same-sex marriage," he said.

Among those in the standing room-only chamber, including two men who married in California while the practice was legal. They wore copies of their marriage license on T-shirts.

"We're not asking any church to recognize us, we're just asking the government to," said Ed Grandis, a lawyer who lives in Dupont Circle with his husband, J.D. Campos.

Council member Marion Barry was the lone dissenter. While he has been a long-time supporter of gay rights, Barry said last week that he now stands against same-sex marriage.

Barry's reversal provoked openly gay council member David Catania to make the matter personal in a tense exchange during council debate.

"I think it is immoral for you to be my friend on the one hand and on the other say you are not entitled to the same rights," Catania said, addressing Barry.

"I resent that implication, that because you're not over here on this particular issue you're not treating us equally -- this is not fair at all," Barry replied.

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

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

Others are criticizing the amendment and what they call repercussions, specifically the possibility that council could soon allow same-sex marriages to occur in Washington. According to Peter Sprigg, ""This is sort of a 'Trojan horse' for the same-sex marriage agenda if you will."

Councilman Catania says that, barring any action from Congress against D.C.'s bill, he'll move forward with introducing another piece of legislation allowing same-sex marriages in the District.

"I am absolutely four-square behind the notion of marriage equality and I will not be turned around -- not by a group of protesters, not by anyone," he said.

The measure will now go to Mayor Adrian Fenty for approval; Fenty has said that he plans to sign off on it. It will then go to Congress for the usual 30-day review applied to all D.C. law. If Congress takes no action, the bill will become law automatically. President Barack Obama (web | news | bio) and congressional leaders have not signaled where they stand on the D.C. bill. Obama generally supports civil unions but has said marriage is between a man and a woman.

In four states, legislatures or courts have ruled that same-sex couples can be legally married. In April, Vermont's legislature legalized same-sex marriage, which was followed hours later by the D.C. Council's first vote on the same-sex marriage amendment. Tuesday's vote finalized that measure.

The District already recognizes domestic partnerships, but gay marriage supporters say that's not enough.

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