The nation's capital will be joining the likes of other northeastern states this week as the widely debated new same-sex marriage law goes into effect.

Beginning today, same-sex couples residents in the District of Columbia will be permitted to begin applying for marriage licenses. The marriage bureau's web site states, however, that "three full days muss pass between the day of application to the day that the license can be issued." So, we won't be seeing any same-sex wedding ceremonies this week.

The measure to make same-sex marriage legal was signed this past December by DC Mayor Adrian Fenty following an overwhelming approval by the city council. The bill was then pushed through Congress afterward for a review period.

A group of DC residents opposed to the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Equality Amendment, that expands the definition of marriage to include same-sex couples, attempted to take a stand against the law, arguing that city residents should have had a chance to vote on the issue. There was no city-wide vote by residents before the city council gave the go-ahead to the Mayor. These same residents will likely push for a ballot initiative after the law goes into effect this week.

via CNN