Earlier in the day, at the large anti-Proposition 8 rally, Salt Lake City resident Dominique Storni said she is "thankful to our Mormon brothers and sisters. I am thankful they have awakened our sleeping giant."

As Sandra Rodrigues of Cottonwood Heights stood on the outskirts of the rally, holding a sign that read "Please Respect Democracy," several people confronted her and asked her to "stop the hate."

Rodrigues, however, said she has no ill will toward the gay community. She just wants everyone to accept the decision of a majority of California voters.

"They are questioning the vote of the people and the right that they have to vote for whatever they want," Rodrigues said. "They should not be intimidating and harassing people."

Also on the outskirts of the crowd, Paul Trane and Richard Teerlink held flags with 50 white stars against a blue background and rainbow stripes. Both former Mormons who served missions and were married to women in LDS temples, Trane and Teerlink married each other last June in California after being together for more than 15 years.

"We are tired of being treated as second-class citizens," Teerlink said.

Jeff Key, a gay Iraq war veteran, told the crowd that the LDS Church's involvement in Proposition 8 has turned Utah into "ground zero" for the gay civil rights movement.

"You called us out," Key said. "You did this."

In one of the smaller rallies, local street preacher Lonnie Pursiful marched five city blocks with a small group of supporters from City Creek Park to the City-County Building, carrying anti-gay signs and wearing T-shirts with similar messages.

The group gathered on the east side of Washington Square, surrounded by Salt Lake City police, but that didn't stop a few shouting matches from breaking out as those protesting Proposition 8 arrived at the rally.

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