At City Hall, Mayor Roach Calls for Marriage Equality

With the country's highest court mulling two polemic, same-sex marriage issues—the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and California's Proposition 8—city officials weighed in Wednesday morning amid a small sea of activists.

"Marriage is a basic right that, it seems to me, should be available to everyone," said Tom Roach, White Plains' mayor, at a press conference on City Hall's front steps.

The Supreme Court is currently examining DOMA, a law that defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman, and prevents gay couples from receiving numerous federal benefits.

Roach—a Democrat—delivered a speech supporting DOMA's overturn with gay pride flags and picket signs behind him. The mayor was flanked by congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-Westchester/Rockland), who echoed his support for same-sex marriages.

"Any American should be able to walk into city halls like this one and marry the person they love," Lowey said. "Equal treatment under the law is one of the bedrock principles of America. It is all too clear that with a discriminatory law like DOMA on the books, we cannot uphold the principles of equality and justice."

Lowey voted in favor of DOMA in 1996, but says her views have since "evolved."

The two politicos were also joined by a passel of local LGBT advocates.

"These two monumental cases before the Supreme Couty are the culmination of many years and many people working for equality for gay and lesbian couples," said David Juhren, executive director of The LOFT LGBT Center in White Plains.