"Gay, straight, black, white...Marriage is a civil right," chanted dozens of Proposition 8 protesters.

They stood In unity Saturday with a message intended to be heard around the nation.  Hundreds of signs wrote it out in plain print, for all eyes to see.

"It's not even about being gay.  It's about being equal.  It's about being people, and recognizing that everybody loves just the same as everybody else," said Stephanie Perkins who helped organize the local protest.

Just two weeks ago, the battle to love hit a roadblock when California residents voted to pass Proposition 8, banning gay marriage. 

"It's alienating at least 10% of the population, if not more.  I don't think God is discriminatory," said Chris Sill.

Yet, some passers by didn't take so well to the protest.

"This is public.  If they want to go protest, why don't they go protest somewhere where there's not a lot of people around," said Amber Willis who is against gay marriage.

But it was her very attitude that fired up the crowd even more.  Within the crowd were dozens of stories, but for some it was a story about hope which they feel they are losing. 

Kate Dodson and Ashley Schwab have been together for three years and were just getting ready to get married when they heard the news.

"It was heartbreaking.  It kind of ruined our election day for us.  We voted for Obama, and we were really excited going to sleep that night.  Waking up the next morning and seeing California had passed proposition 8 was just completely devastating," said Dodson.

It's their hopes that with uprising support, the decision will be repealed, and that the country will embrace diversity.

"We're not perverse.  We are not doing anything that's not a totally normal loving relationship," said Schwab.

The couple said they will likely go to one of the states that still allows gay marriage, but the ban in California has complicated their plans to get hitched.

The protest in Springfield's downtown square was one of many that took place across the country on Saturday.

At one point the group had a moment of silence to grieve the decision of voters in California.

-Story ideas or comments?  Email me at wcarter@kspr.com