San Leandro To Raise Rainbow Flag, Support Same-Sex Marriage

On Monday night the city council voted to fly the rainbow flag over San Leandro City Hall next week to support same sex couples who will ask the U.S. Supreme Court to invalidate two laws barring them from getting married.

"Flying the flag is a statement by the City Council saying we support marriage equality for same sex couples," Mayor Stephen Cassidy said of the unanimous decision, according to a San Jose Mercury News report. 

Cassidy added that the council wanted to signal that San Leandro was tolerant and inclusive.

The symbolic gesture is timed to coincide with two cases that will come up for oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday and Wednesday.

In the first case, two Berkeley women are challenging California's Proposition 8 ban on same-sex marriages.

The second case being heard on Wednesday challenges the Defense of Marriage Act, a federal law that defines marriage as the union between one man and one woman.

Interest in the two cases is so intense that the Supreme Court will make audio recordings of the oral aruments available on the same days that they occur.

Meanwhile, a Washington Post/ABC News poll reports that, by a 58-36 percent margin, Americans support the marriage of gay and lesbian couples.

What do you think of the council action and of same-sex marriage? Do you plan a personal gesture to signal your views on the issue? Sound off in the comments below.