By Elyssa Whaley/reporter

Same-sex couples are challenging Supreme Court justices to review policies that have denied 1,138 rights, benefits and protections amongst the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community.

In support of the cases, Trinity River Equality in Education and GetEQUAL TX will host Light the Way to Justice rally 6 a.m.-noon on March 25 at the Rainbow Lounge parking lot at 651 S. Jennings Ave. in Fort Worth.

Starting at 10 a.m., speakers will voice their support at the rally. Invited were State Sen. Lon Burnam, Fort Worth Councilman Joel Burns, Fort Worth Police Officer and GLBT liaison Tracy Knight and Dallas Voice Person of the Year C.D. Kirvin.

The rally hopes to bring awareness to the Supreme Court hearings that will take place March 26 and 27 for two historical decisions regarding same-sex relationships.

The cases to be viewed are Hollingsworth v. Perry, challenging California’s Proposition 8, which bans on same-sex marriage, and the Defense of Marriage Act that defines marriage as a legal union between one man and one woman.

Damon Carver, outreach coordinator for TREE, said the GLBT community often feels oppressed because it does not have the same rights as everyone else.

“By showing us this, we risk being treated like second class citizens,” Carver said.

The decisions resulting from these cases will affect future policies and laws regarding same-sex couples’ protections, benefits and rights across the nation.