Hundreds of activists gathered at Austin’s city hall yesterday (10 March) and marched to the Texas Capitol to show their support for LGBT Texans and demand for equal rights.

Members of GetEQUAL Texas, hopes to gain public support for equal rights under state and federal laws choosing to protest while the state legislature was in session.

Several pro LGBT rights bills have been filed for the current session of both houses of the Texan state legislature.

Protestors praised Democratic lawmakers who have introduced bills to have both gay parents listed on birth certificates.

Filed bills filed include employment non-discrimination, marriage, insurance, supplemental birth certificates for adopted children.

Another bill to be discussed, creating a standard process for changing gender markers.

Tiffani Bishop, Central Region Lead Organizer for GetEQUAL, told local TV station KXAN: ‘Now is the time to act. We have less than 80 days left in this legislative session and we have a real chance to affect positive change in the Lone Star State.

‘We must lift our voices in unison and let our lawmakers know that we are not going to go anywhere anytime soon. We will march rain or shine. And we’ll be back if these bills don’t pass’.

The bills stand little chance in the Republican-controlled Legislature. Gov. Rick Perry adamantly opposes gay marriage and has likened homosexuality to alcoholism.

Democrat state representative Mary Gonzalez, who describes herself as pansexual, told the crowd the fight for equal rights is tough but needed.

Texas has very limited legal provisions for LGBT people, and its constitution bans gay marriage.

Austin, the state capital, has recently approved gay marriage despite the state-wide ban.

