Photo courtesy of the Office of Alan Lowenthal.

As the Supreme Court of our nation heard arguments last week regarding the constitutionality of both Prop 8 and the Defense of Marriage Act, California representative Alan Lowenthal took his own stand against those who don’t support marriage equality by flying a rainbow flag–representative of the LGBTQ community–outside his Congressional offices here in Long Beach as well as Washington D.C.

According to the Architect of the Capitol as well as the House Historian, it is believed that this is the first time a member of Congress has formally displayed a rainbow flag outside their office. Each office is provided three flag spots: one for the American flag, one for the member’s state flag, and a third slot for the member’s choice. 

“My offices are flying the Pride flag–proudly I might add–in solidarity with not only my LGBT constituents, but LGBT Americans everywhere,” Lowenthal said in a statement.

Lowenthal hopes that placement of the flag, which he will continue to fly until marriage equality is achieved, will make at least “one person stop and think about the advancements that are needed in our country[.]”