Move over Sydney, Perth is the new gay-friendly capital of Australia.
It's estimated up to 9000 of the city's citizens braved non-stop rain on Sunday to show their support for same-sex marriage, beating attendance at protests held in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra earlier this year.
"What's the best thing about rain - it's rainbow season," Australian Marriage Equality deputy national director Ivan Hinton-Teoh told the rally.
The crowd at Russell Square in Northbridge called on the government to allow a free vote on next month's gay marriage bill, which will be introduced by Liberal backbencher Warren Entsch and co-sponsored by Labor, the Greens and independents.
Speakers urged people to email, call and visit their local federal members of parliament in a bid to be heard on the issue.
"We deserve to be just as miserable as our straight counterparts," Playgroup with Pride WA vice president Joey Cookman-McAuley said.
Robbie Lawrence and Mary Rawlinson told AAP fear and tradition were holding people back from embracing same-sex marriage and there should be equal rights across the board.
The couple were one of the hundreds that held each other in the rain and kissed beneath the shelter of rainbow coloured umbrellas.
Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert said bigotry and homophobia were on death row.
"The Bernardis, the Abbotts, the Abetzes are wrong - their love is no more important than yours and mine," Ms Siewert said.
"Everybody has a right to be able to express their love and acknowledge their love in public before the community, their family and friends."
Another same-sex marriage rally will be held in Perth on August 9, the Sunday before the gay marriage bill is introduced to parliament.
