Supporters of equal marriage rights for gay and lesbians marched through Civic in protest against the defeat of the Greens' Marriage Equality Amendment Bill in the Senate.

Organised by social advocacy group Equal Love Canberra, a range of speakers addressed the topic of marriage inequality, including representatives from workplace unions, the ACT Greens and Amnesty International.

The event formed part of the self-proclaimed 2010 National Year of Action for Marriage Equality, with Equal Love spokeswoman Gabrielle Hitch describing the Senate vote as ''cowardly''.

For more, pick up a copy of today's Canberra Times