A law recognising same-sex marriages performed elsewhere has gone into effect in the US capitol.
The bill was approved in a 12-1 vote by the city council in May.
Congress, which has the final say over the city’s laws, had 30 days to review the bill. A push by black church leaders who oppose gay marriage failed to get a referendum on the matter.
And Congress took no action, allowing the bill to become law on Wednesday.
Council member David Catania has said that recognising gay marriages performed elsewhere is a first step toward performing same-sex weddings in the city.
Six states -- Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire -- allow same-sex marriage. US states have jurisdiction over marriages, not the federal government.