Of Flesh and Blood We're Made

Does this mean if we'd just called them human rights instead of gay then we'd still be able to marry in California and Rhode Island?

The Associated Press reports:

The District of Columbia Board of Ethics and Elections said a measure that would ban same-sex marriages cannot go on the city’s ballot. Opponents of same-sex marriage wanted to ask voters whether “only marriage between a man and woman” should be recognized. The City Council is expected to pass a measure that would let same-sex couples marry. The elections board said that putting a measure to ban same-sex marriage on the ballot would conflict with the city’s Human Rights Act.