Opponents of a bill that would allow gay marriage in D.C. want to put a measure on the ballot to let voters weigh in.

Opponents filed paperwork with the Board of Elections and Ethics Wednesday to try to put the referendum on the ballot. Previous similar attempts have been unsuccessful.

D.C. passed a bill in December that would let gay couples marry. Because the city is a federal district, the law is currently pending a period of review by Congress.

Also on Wednesday, opponents of gay marriage were in court for a hearing in a lawsuit against the elections board. They are seeking to overturn the elections board's refusal to allow a separate initiative on the ballot that would define marriage in the city as between a man and woman.

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