Following the California Supreme Court’s marriage decision, LGBT candidates are stepping up to run for office in cities across the U.S., according to several media reports out today.

Former Washington, D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation director Clark E. Ray (pictured) is considering challenging incumbent City Councilman Phil Mendelson for at at-large seat on the D.C. Council.  Ray, who would become the third openly gay councilmember, told the Washington Post he’d be focused on running a broad campaign rather than one specifically about marriage.  

In Atlanta, openly gay business owner and community organizer Alex Wan announced his bid for a seat on the Atlanta City Council.  He will be running against Steve Brodie, another openly gay candidate, who came within 5 votes of unseating incumbent Anne Fauver in 2005.  Fauver, who is the Council’s only openly gay official, has announced she will not run for a  third term.

Meanwhile in San Francisco numerous openly gay candidates reacted to the California Supreme Court decision, and some were even arrested at street protests following the announcement, according to the Bay Area Reporter.