Five Gay Activists Arrested at Texas Capitol at Sit-In Against Four GOP Senators: VIDEO

Five gay activists from the group GetEQUAL Texas were arrested on Wednesday after refusing to leave the offices of four Republican senators who refuse to support Senate Bill 237, the Fair Employment Act, KEYE reports:

Michael Diviesti of GetEQUAL TX says, "What the bill does is says 'hey look, if you live in Texas you can't fire somebody simply because they happen to be gay or lesbian or bisexual or transgender.' You have to have a real reason to fire someone or deny them employment."

We tried to speak with all of the four senators who the protesters say are not supporting the bill, none could speak to us on camera. Senate Bill 237 is currently stuck in committee, where it's been for the last month. It will stay there until it gets the votes needed to move to the next level.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

'Marriage Equality Now' Projected on the Supreme Court Last Night: PHOTO

Thought the Supreme Court went dark between yesterday's raucous Proposition 8 hearings and rallies, and today's consideration of the Defense of Marriage Act, what we're fighting for did not go forgotton.

Activist group GetEQUAL and the Backbone Campaign took care of that with this amazing projection.

GetEQUAL Calls on Supreme Court to Strike Down Prop 8, DOMA: VIDEO

Equality is waiting. History is watching.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

United for Marriage rallies are now in 50 states.

No matter where you are in the country on March 26 and 27, there is likely a rally or event to mark the Supreme Court's historic hearings on DOMA and Proposition 8.

Find or create an event of your own on the United for Marriage 'Light the Way to Justice' page. You can also follow them on Facebook or Twitter.

Activists to Stage White House Protest Over ENDA Sunday Night

Activists demanding Obama keep his first-term promise to extend workplace protections to LGBT people will gather outside the White House two days before the President's State of the Union address to demand he do so.

From activist group GetEQUAL:

As he was running for president, then-candidate Obama pledged to extend workplace protections to all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people employed by federal contractors, but has yet to deliver any policy to protect these vulnerable employees, who can be fired in over half the states in the country based simply on their sexual identity, and 39 states based on their gender identity or expression.

President Obama could offer these protections today to 16 million people with the stroke of a pen by signing an Executive Order which would protect anyone employed by a contractor who receives over $10,000/year in federal funds. As we approach the first State of the Union for the president’s second and final term, GetEQUAL is reminding the president to keep the promises he made that will not only help boost our suffering economy but protect millions of workers and families.

The demonstration is scheduled to take place Sunday night at 6 pm on the south side of the White House.

'GetEqual' to March on the RNC with Coalition of Diverse Progressive Groups

Activist organization GetEQUAL has joined a coalition of groups which will march on the Republican National Convention at 10 am on August 27th, Towleroad has learned.

Writes the group:

GetEQUAL has been approached to endorse this coalition as the very first national LGBTQ organization to join forces with students, immigrant, African Americans, women and workers to reclaim our voice and hold accountable those in federal government, as well as in every local community across the country, who stand in the way of equality for all Americans.

Felipe Sousa-Rodriguez, national field director for GetEQUAL, said, “As a resident of Tampa, an LGBTQ leader, and an immigrant, I have no other choice but to protest when our worst foes descend on our beloved community. We are honored and pleased to join Coalition to March on the RNC. We are all part of a progressive movement.”

Jared Hamil, one of the lead organizers of the coalition, stated, “Until the final days before the event, we will continue to unite all groups and individuals who oppose the agenda of the Republicans and the 1%, and support a People’s Agenda of good jobs, affordable education, healthcare, equality, and peace.”

Texas Gay Activist Arrested Again After Being Denied Marriage License

No, you are not having deja vu.

Texas-based activist Major Jiminez was arrested again this afternoon after he and partner Beau Chandler were denied a marriage license.

Both men were arrested last month in an action that highlighted the Lone Star State's anti-equality marriage laws, and were in court this morning for a hearing on that matter. It was postponed, leaving Jiminez and Chandler time to go to the marriage counter and ask for a marriage license. Again they were denied.

GetEQUAL, which worked with the men on their protest, provides more details:

While Beau elected to comply in order to ensure the he would keep his job, Major elected to sit down and refuse to move -- resulting in a second arrest. At this time, the charges against Major are not known.

"Yesterday, people came out in force to eat chicken and support hatred," said Major Jiminez. "Today, I am being thrown in jail because of who I love. How can our lawmakers and courts sit by and do nothing?"

The original action and GetEQUAL helped inspire similar protests around the nation today. Activists from Albuquerque to Tampa headed to their local marriage counter and requested licenses the government keeps for heterosexual couples. There are apparently more actions on the way.

Image via GetEQUAL's Facebook.