Same-sex marriage supporters rally on the steps of L.A. City Hall

As the U.S. Supreme Court prepared to hear arguments in two same-sex marriage cases, hundreds of gay marriage supporters held a rally on the steps of Los Angeles City Hall on Sunday night.

As the sun set, people held up flickering white candles and sang “Marry me ... oh oh oh, marry me” as some waved rainbow flags.

“Let’s get really loud, so they can hear us all the way to Washington, D.C.,” urged Arro Verse, 36, a Los Angeles musical artist who wrote the song.

The rally was organized by United for Marriage Los Angeles, a coalition of 25 organizations including churches, temples and gay rights groups. Similar rallies were planned around the country over the weekend and early this week.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court plans to hear arguments on Proposition 8, the 2008 California ballot initiative that banned gay marriage in the state. The next day, the court will take up a challenge to the federal Defense of Marriage Act.

Chris Barber, 47, said he and his partner, Gregg Cahill, 44, both of Eagle Rock, said they showed up “because we are a gay couple hoping to get married.”

He said he hoped Supreme Court justices would “see the support [for gay marriage] around the country.”

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jessica.garrison@latimes.com