A D.C. Superior Court judge tossed a challenge to the city’s gay marriage law, ruling that the matter doesn’t have to be subject to a voter referendum. Opponents led by Bishop Henry Jackson sued to get a ballot measure that would define marriage as being between one man and one woman. But Judge Judith Macaluso granted summary judgment to the District on Thursday, saying the measure would violate the city’s Human Rights Act. The legislation must still pass a 30-day review period by Congress, but proponents remain hopeful that same-sex couples will be walking down the aisle in D.C. in early March. After Thursday’s ruling, a Baltimore delegate introduced a bill in Annapolis that would forbid Maryland from recognizing same-sex marriages from other jurisdictions. — Bill Myers
