Gay rights supporters have been gathering in major cities and small communities across the country today to protest California's vote to ban gay marriage in the state.

Oklahomans Protest California Gay Marriage Vote | LA Mayor Protests Prop 8

In Massachusetts, the state where same-sex couples first exchanged wedding vows, speakers at Boston's City Hall called for "equal rights across the country."

One sign at the Boston rally read, "Gay is the new black."

Massachusetts and Connecticut are the only two state that allow gay marriage. Thirty other state have banned it.

In North Dakota, where a gay-marriage ban was passed in 2004, about 200 protesters gathered on Fargo's Veterans Memorial Bridge to rally for equality, the the Fargo Forum reported.

Mississippi also has a constitutional ban on gay marriages, and about 50 people protested in Jackson outside the state Capitol, upset the measure didn't pass in California, WAPT-TV reported.

"When people see protests happening around the country, they'll understand that this isn't just an issue that's happening somewhere else, this is an American issue happening everywhere, because it affects all of us," Mississippi organizer Brent Cox said.

In Los Angeles, protesters gathered at City Hall for a downtown march, chanting and carrying rainbow-colored flags and signs bearing messages such as "No More Mr. Nice Gay" and "No on Hate," the Los Angeles Times reported.

In South Carolina, one man who passed by a Greenville protest said he doesn't support the marches.

"I don't agree with some of their signs, because the signs equate anyone who opposes their point of view as hating," Dave Ashburn said. "I don't hate gays, but I do believe that marriage is between a man and a woman."

The Miami Herald reported that hundreds marched on Miami Beach City Hall in protest. Photos posted to the Web site show the signs protesters held, including on that said "We Deserve the Right To Divorce."

Florida voters approved Amendment 2 on Nov. 4, which bans same-sex marriage in the state.

"It's important to be here today, because Amendment 2 is dangerous," Jay Blotcher told WPBF-TV. "It's dangerous for the civil rights of all people. Because if this group can say, 'Oh yeah, this group shouldn't have the rights as others,' where are they going to stop?"

"I think it's important for everyone to realize that we're all equal and we all are entitled to happiness, and that's what this is all about," Jill Talbot Jay Blotcher told WPBF-TV.

There were other demonstrations today in New York, San Francisco, Chicago and Philadelphia.

WTAE-TV reported that speakers in Pittsburgh shared their personal stories with more than 100 people at the rally in Schenley Plaza. Many said they want to be treated like everyone else. Organizers said Proposition 8 denies citizens basic rights others enjoy.

"I just want to make it apparent it's not a gay and lesbian issue. It's an equal-rights issue because everybody has the right to have rights," said Misty Harvey, an organizer of the event.

Thousands of people marched peacefully through downtown Seattle Saturday afternoon. KIRO 7 reported that Seattle police estimated the crowd to number about 3,000.

"The Church of Latter Day Snakes," one sign said, pointedly aimed at the Mormon church, which supported Proposition 8 in California.

"You can't stop love," another sign said.

Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels spoke to the marchers, who gathered at Volunteer Park and then proceeded to Westlake Center. He called Proposition 8 "a hateful measure which should never have been on the ballot." Nickels told the crowd he has declared Nov. 15 as "Marriage Equality Day in Seattle."

In Iowa, about 100 protesters picketed at the Des Moines City Hall, KCCI-TV reported. The Join The Impact demonstrators talked about the legalization of same-sex marriage in Iowa.

The state's first and only legally married same-sex couple attended the protest, as did Iowa's only openly gay state senator, Matt McCoy.

Protesters said gay and lesbian couples only want the same rights as straight couples.

"They work. They pay their bills. They maintain their households. They raise their kids, and yet, they don't have those same rights and protections," said protester Linda Trudeau. "That's just wrong."

Six same-sex couples will go before the Iowa Supreme Court on Dec. 9 to argue for legal same-sex marriage in Iowa. It was legal in Polk County for two days in August 2007. One couple was married before a court ended the practice.

Hundreds of protesters in Oklahoma City rallied on the steps of City Hall, KOCO-TV reported.

"It's a huge, huge movement going on today," said local organizer Bret Gaither. "We're not asking for, you know, understanding or special treatment. We're asking for equal treatment."

Similar protests were planned in Tulsa and Stillwater.

The rally was part of a global day of protest that took place in more than 300 cities in four countries.