By Courtney Essett Citizen Staff

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Florida lawmakers called it Amendment 2. In Arkansas, it was Amendment 3. California labeled it Proposition 8.

Gay-rights proponents call it an injustice.

Across the nation, gay couples, activists and opponents of the different measures had hoped Barack Obama and his promise of change would usher in and cement the right for same-sex couples to marry.

Instead, Nov. 4 brought a night of mixed emotions -- jubilation at Obama's win, coupled with bitter disappointment that gay rights overwhelmingly were shot down in all three states.

Florida, which already bans gay marriage, passed Amendment 2, which further denies legal benefits to couples who are "married" in civil union. It passed with 62 percent of the vote, only slightly more than the 60 percent required for the state's constitutional amendment.

While protests and rallies rose up in California, whose Proposition 8 bans gay marriage, it had remained relatively quiet in Florida, especially in Key West, despite the island's large gay population.

That all changes today, when Key West joins the rest of the country in a nationwide protest against Proposition 8. The Gay and Lesbian Community Center (GLCC) is sponsoring the local rally from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at Old City Hall, 510 Greene St., where it will have sign-making supplies on hand.

Guest speakers will include Key West City Commissioner Teri Johnston, former Mayor Jimmy Weekley and the Rev. Joe McMurray from the Metropolitan Community Church, according to GLCC President John Andola.

"It's essentially a bunch of people who are appalled at the way this has occurred," Andola said. "There will be signs, speakers and people getting together stating that they think this is wrong, that it impinges upon the civil rights of people. It's not appropriate and we are going to make our voices heard."

Among those in the Key West community who oppose Proposition 8 and Amendment 2 is Heather Carruthers, a Monroe County Commissioner-elect and owner of the women-only United Street guesthouse Pearl's Rainbow.

"I think that anything we do as a nation that restricts individual freedoms is inconsistent with the Founding Fathers of this country's concept of everyone being equal," she said.

Carruthers made clear that although she is gay, she would feel the same way not only as a politician, but as a person who supports equal rights. While she is unhappy with the legislation, there is a bright spot for her.

"Obviously, I'm disappointed," she said of its passage, "but I am happy with the way Monroe County voted." All but eight of Florida's 67 counties passed the amendment. Monroe was the only one to give the amendment less than 50 percent of the vote.

While disappointed for the moment, gays and equal rights activists remain hopeful. With gay couples in Connecticut having won the right to marry instead of just accepting a civil union, some believe it's only a matter of time before other states follow suit.

"I am hopeful about the future," said Jon Allen, owner of Island House, a gay men's resort on Fleming Street. "I do think that eventually this will be overturned."

Allen, who shudders at the thought of one group being able to take away the rights of another, said he is putting his faith in the younger generation, which he thinks is more tolerant.

"If you look at this year's voting, it was an overwhelming number of young voters who were for it and older voters who were against it. This group starting to vote grew up with gay people and don't look at it as something wrong," he said. "Eventually, these are the people who will be in charge."

Carruthers believes so, too.

"I believe as we mature, we'll be extending rights to everyone," she said. "Look at our future president. It was as late as the '60s when his parents wouldn't have been able to marry."