An estimated 6,000 people attended a rally Sunday in Houston in support of five local pastors who were asked by the city to hand over their sermons as part of a lawsuit seeking to repeal the city's gay-inclusive non-discrimination ordinance.

After opponents of the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO) failed in an attempt to put the law on the ballot in November, they filed a lawsuit claiming that city officials had illegally rejected their petition for a public vote.

Last week, the city withdrew its plan to subpoena the sermons as they relate to the ordinance and homosexuality.

At last night's “I Stand Sunday” event, held at Houston's Grace Community Church, speakers chided Parker, calling her requests an attack on religious liberty.

Pastor Khanh Huynhm, who fled his native Vietnam to escape religious persecution, warned that America was falling under tyranny.

“I'm facing the same marching boot of tyranny right here where I live,” he said.

Tony Perkins, president of the Christian conservative Family Research Council (FRC), also addressed the crowd.

“This was never really about subpoenas. It was not about sermons or speeches. It was about political intimidation. It was about trying to silence the voices of the churches and the pastors,” he said.

“It's time that we stand once again for religious freedom here in America and give the world hope,” added Perkins, a strong opponent of gay rights.

The Houston Chronicle reported that LGBT rights advocate GetEqual Texas organized a demonstration a few blocks away.

“You cannot use your faith as a blank check to discriminate against others,” the group's Tiffani Bishop said.

Kristen Capps, 47, who joined a smaller counter-protest action collecting coats for needy LGBT youth held before Sunday's event, said the five pastors “have done a great job of portraying themselves as victims.”

Notable speakers at “I Stand Sunday” included former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, Fox News contributor Todd Starnes and Duck Dynasty patriarch Phil Robertson.

The New Civil Right Movement wrote about the hijacking of the Twitter hashtag #iStandSunday, which was being used by organizers to promote the event. Pro-equality tweets using #iStandSunday drowned out those of opponents.