"The Defense of Marriage Act is again being questioned by activist judges all over the country," he warned. " If they continue to question it, we'll bring it up sooner. Otherwise I expect it will be brought up sometime in this Congress."

Frist noted that since the issue exploded last year, 13 states have passed constitutional amendments against gay marriage.

Meanwhile in San Francisco, Democratic Mayor Gavin Newsom urged gay couples to back politicians who support gay marriage.

"It's time to hold our elected officials accountable," Newsom told a crowd of about 3,000 gay and lesbian supporters on Saturday during a ceremony to mark the anniversary of last year's "Winter of Love," when the mayor flouted California law and married thousands of gay and lesbian couples

"It is no longer acceptable for politicians to come to you every election cycle and ask for money and then say, 'It's too much, too soon,'" Newsom complained, according to the Associated Press.

Editor's note: