The U.S. Episcopal Church's first openly gay bishop is among hundreds of clergy members who gathered in Washington to lobby lawmakers in support of gay rights.

The Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson spoke Monday at the Calvary Baptist Church in downtown D.C. about the importance of full equality and the hard work ahead, despite recent gains.

Robinson and more than 300 others from various faiths will spend Tuesday on Capitol Hill urging lawmakers to pass legislation giving gay, bisexual and transgender victims of violence new protections. An expanded hate crimes bill passed the House last week.

Clergy Call, which is sponsored by the D.C.-based Human Rights Campaign, comes amid significant victories for the gay-rights movement, including the recent legalization of same-sex marriage in several states.