Do you mean gay equality in general or gay marriage specifically? Religious communities have been intimately connected with the fight for gay marriage. The first lawsuit on behalf of a gay marriage was filed by the Reverend Troy Perry of the Metropolitan Community Church.

http://mccchurch.org/overview/history-of-mcc/mcc-and-marriage-equality/

Perhaps you could rephrase the question as, "How extensive was the religious involvement in the gay marriage movement versus the black civil rights movement?" I'd like to hear what a flair like /u/cephalopodie has to say about that.