Fresh on the heels of today’s Victory in Vermont!, the D.C. Council voted today to recognize same gender marriages of other US jurisdictions.

The D.C. Council overwhelmingly voted Tuesday in favor of legislation recognizing gay marriages from other states — a move city lawmakers lauded as a step toward legalizing such marriages in the city.

“This is the march toward human rights and equality,” said Council member David A. Catania, at-large independent. “And that march is coming here.”

If signed into law, the bill will allow gay D.C. couples to marry in one of four states that allow such marriages, then return to the District and have the marriage recognized under city law.

The 13-member council gave preliminary approval to the bill on the same day Vermont became the fourth state to legalize same-sex unions. The Vermont legislature voted to override the governor’s veto and allow gay marriages.

The D.C. legislation faces final approval by the council next month, then it must be reviewed by Congress, which has final say over most city laws.

The three other states that approve same-sex marriages are Connecticut, Massachusetts and Iowa.

Mr. Catania, who is gay, said he expected no opposition from Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, Democrat.

“Today was the right day to move forward on this issue given what has happened” in Vermont, Mr. Catania also said.

Just to be clear, this doesn’t mean that gay marriages can be performed in the nation’s capitol, just that marriages that are legally performed in any state will be recognized. Last September, the Washington Blade reported that the city may pass a marriage equality bill in 2009. Looks like they’re well on their way.