Traditional marriage supporters in Washington, D.C. were in federal court Tuesday asking for the right to vote on the district's same-sex marriage law.

In March, the district began issuing marriage licenses to gay couples after the city council passed the measure.

Stand 4 Marriage D.C., challenged the law, citing the council's refusal to allow voters an up or down vote on whether to allow gay marriage in the nation's capital. A last minute appeal to the Supreme Court was sent back to a district court.

The D.C. Court of Appeals began hearing the case Tuesday.

Bishop Harry Jackson filed the suit against the city on behalf of Stand 4 Marriage D.C. He told CBN News residents in the district do not want this law.

"The D.C. city charter gives the people the right to vote and the right to initiate and strike down laws," Jackson said. "So essentially we are asking for a marriage amendment likened to the one in California and that we are in exactly the same situation they were-- that a law was passed by the legislators that doesn't reflect the will of the people."

Click play for more of Bishop Harry Jackson's comments.