WASHINGTON - Religious leaders and opponents of same-sex marriage held a gathering Sunday at Freedom Plaza to take a stand against gay marriage.

“To advocate having same-sex marriage is saying look we’re excluded from having benefits,” said Rev. Jon Boyles, a Geithersburg resident.

The D.C. Council will begin marathon hearings Monday on legalizing same-sex marriage in the District.

“Separate is inherently unequal,” said Michael Crawford with D.C. for Marriage.

D.C. currently recognizes same-sex marriages performed in other states.

“There shouldn’t be one category for one group of residents in the District and then another category for another group in the District,” Crawford said.

Opponents argue that marriage should be between a man and a woman and that the debate wouldn’t stop here.

“A father and a son. A mother and a daughter could come forward and say we want to be married,” said Rev. Boyles.

“I think that everyone should have the right to be married. I think we’re a progressive city and we’re in our nation’s capitol so we should be leading the way on that,” said District resident Ali Cherry.

Instead of a Council vote, same-sex opponents are calling for a referendum in 2010.

Supporters of same-sex marriage are vowing to pass some type of law by December.

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