CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — The

Chapel Hill

Town Council voted unanimously Wednesday to ask state lawmakers to repeal the Defense of Marriage act.

That means the town council is moving forward with its plan to recognize gay marriages, even though North Carolina does not under the act.

That would allow towns like Chapel Hill the option of recognizing legal gay marriages from other states.

Openly gay town council member Mark Kleinschmidt has spearheaded the effort to recognize gay marriages. He realizes the request may fall on deaf ears in the legislature.

"I suspect it won't come up even in a committee," Kleinschmidt said. "That's fine. What we have now is the town of Chapel Hill saying 'its our public policy, here in our community, that we desire to treat all married people the same.'"

Lawmakers who represent the Chapel Hill area will take a look at this request. The real test comes when the Legislature reconvenes this spring.