Gay Texans to Protest Perry Policies

Gay rights activists in Texas are planning protests in nine cities against the anti-marriage equality stance of governor and presidential candidate Rick Perry.

The protests will take place on Saturday in Austin, Brownsville, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Harlingen, Houston, Huntsville, Odessa, and San Antonio. The marches and rallies will call for marriage equality in the state -- some same-sex couples are also planning commitment ceremonies at the events.

"The doors to religious-based ceremonial weddings are wide open for same-sex couples throughout our state as more and more religious leaders are supportive of marriage equality for LGBT Texans," Jay Morris, co-lead organizer for GetEQUAL Texas, said in a press release. "Unfortunately, the doors to the house of justice have been slammed in our faces, and 1,138 federal rights provided by marriage are denied to our families due to state and federal regulations like the Defense of Marriage Act. Today, we are protesting that state and federal inequality and drawing attention to the need for pro-family laws that will provide safety and protection for ALL Texas families, including the over 17,000 children being raised by same-sex couples in Texas."

For more information, go to GetEQUAL's website.