Lady Gaga performing in Rome. Photo: CFP?

Pop queen Lady Gaga concluded a huge European gay equality march in Rome Saturday night with a rousing call to governments to defend gay rights.

"Today and every day we fight for freedom. We fight for justice. We beckon for compassion, understanding and above all we want full equality now," she shouted to a crowd of several hundred thousand people at the capital's ancient Circus Maximus.

"We have the same DNA. We were just 'born this way'," she said, using the title of her latest hit album.

Sporting dyed green hair and an outfit by the late fashion designer Gianni Versace, she said she was "angry" and singled out several governments in Europe and the Middle East she said discriminated against gays.

"I am aware that many countries and governments worldwide still restrict their citizens from reading about LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) issues and this is what means the most to me in my career. I want all of your stories to be heard by everyone, all over the world," she said.

"We stand here to demand an end to intolerance," she shouted before accompanying herself on a grand piano in acoustic renditions of some of her songs.