Photo Coverage: The National Equality March and Rally in Washington, D.C.

On Sunday, October 11th, over 150,000 people descended on the nation's capital to support equal rights for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered communities. Numerous Broadway celebrities were part of this effort, adding their voices to the cause that had approximately 1,400 people under the Broadway Impact banner alone. Broadway stars like Cynthia Nixon, Gavin Creel, Celia Keenan Bolger & John Ellison Conlee, Audra McDonald, Marisa Jaret Winokur, B.D. Wong, Jonathan Groff and more (as well as theater companies like Ars Nova) sponsored Broadway Impact buses to bring marchers from New York to DC.

Broadway Impact is a grassroots organization of the Theatre community and its fans, mobilizing in support of marriage equality. Co-founded by Gavin Creel, Rory O'Malley and Jenny Kanelos, it aims to educate and inspire the community into action towardsequality. For more information please visit www.broadwayimpact.com.

Last May, civil rights activist David Mixner called for a national march on Washington in support of Equal rights for LGBT people, calling on prominent LGBT community leaders Cleve Jones and Torie Osborne to execute and organize it. Days later in Fresno CA, at a rally of approximately 5000 people from all walks of life protesting the California Supreme Courts decision to uphold Prop. 8, Cleve Jones stepped to the podium and committed to Mixner's plea.

At that moment Jones' organization Equality Across America was born, along with its first mission: the National Equality March. Equality Across America has developed grassroots leadership in all 435 congressional districts to ensure that their message is heard loud and clear by elected officials all across America.

In October 1979, LGBT activists from across the country marched on Washington to fight for equal rights towards all. Exactly 30 years later a new generation of equality activists will take to the National Mall and continue that fight -- and not quit until LGBT people are granted equal protection in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states.

Photos by Patsy Lynch/Retna Ltd.

Cynthia Nixon

Urvashi Vaid, Cynthia Nixon and Kate Clinton

Cynthia Nixon

Thousands of Gay, Lesbian, Bi-Sexual and Transgender(G LBT) advocates took to the streets in Washington, DC

Gene Saffart and his partner, Jess Siger

Lisa Dank

A message for all

Thousands demand to be heard

GLBT activists

The walk to the Capitol

Patrick Bangl and Michael DeSanis with their twins sons, Nick and Alex

Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga

Martina Navratilova