AUSTIN, Texas — Texas troopers have arrested five gay rights protesters after they blocked traffic in front of the state Capitol to demand equal rights.
A dozen demonstrators screamed, "End discrimination now," on Wednesday.
The group Get Equal wants Texas to pass a law making it illegal to discriminate against someone for being gay or transsexual in the workplace. Under current Texas law, employers may fire someone based on their sexual orientation or deny them health benefits.
Democratic Sen. Leticia Van de Putte has introduced Senate Bill 237 to ban workplace discrimination, but conservative Republicans have blocked the measure. If the Senate does not take up the bill by Thursday, it will not be considered again this year.
Troopers arrested three protesters from the group when they occupied a lawmaker's offices last week.
From the Associated PressAssociated Press