DAYTON — Gay rights supporters in the Miami Valley joined others across the nation Sunday in a unified protest against California's Proposition 8, which restricted marriage to same-sex couples

Those who gathered at Courthouse Square on Saturday, Nov. 15, had to brave miserably cold, wet weather to take their stand.

"It shows how strongly we feel about it, that we'd stand out here on day like today," Quinn Gibson, of Fairborn, said.

The LGBT (lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender) community saw several setbacks at the polls this month. Arkansas voters made it illegal for unmarried but cohabiting partners to adopt or foster a child, a measure that was intended to target gays but has a broader application, and Arizona and Florida also banned gay marriage.

There are now 30 states restricting marriage to male/female unions only by state constitutional amendment, including Ohio, which did so in 2004. Same-sex marriage is permitted in Massachusetts and Connecticut.

The situation surrounding California's constitutional ban is unique because it was passed only about five months after a state Supreme Court decision made it legal. It's still uncertain when the ban goes into effect or what the status is of the 18,000 gay and lesbian couples who married during the brief time it was legal.

"I have friends out there this directly affected," Julian Haydu of Fairborn said. "How can people say this is about protecting the family, when it's tearing families apart?"

Cherish Cronmiller of Dayton carried a sign saying "My Mom has been married 3 times (to men) My Dad has been married 4 times (to women) — What exactly are you trying to protect?"

"Two consenting adults can enter into a contract and that should include marriage," Cronmiller said. "There are over 1,400 rights associated with being legally married. People just don't realize how far it extends."