"Marriage is between a man and woman to procreate the species," bellowed Jonas Rodrigues, a right-wing activist known for his confrontational style, into the face of one of hundreds of gay-rights supporters gathered Saturday at Washington Park in downtown Salt Lake City.

"Everyone has a human right to fill the basic need to nurture each other. It's denying them basic rights. It's that simple," replied Tyler Bushnell of Salt Lake City.

The Rodrigues' led one of two tiny, but visible counter-protests, each numbering about a dozen, in support of traditional marriage, defined in California's Proposition 8 as a bond between a man and a woman.

The Rodrigues' group, called American Forever, stood up for the political process that enacted the controversial ballot measure, while an evangelical group used scripture and moral condemnation.

Perennial Baptist street preacher Lonnie Pursifull convened his gathering not so much to support Proposition 8, but to condemn homosexuality as "an abomination in the eyes of the Lord."

Added Ray Anderson of Salt Lake City: "God stands waiting to forgive, but He is ready to punish. If you have homosexual marriage, my child will learn that it is an acceptable behavior."

Pursifull's group marched from City Creek Park down State Street to Washington Square as motorists honked and gestured, some in support, some in derision.

"I don't care what man thinks. I care what God thinks," commented Pursifull, no stranger to such taunts during his years denouncing Mormons at Temple Square.

America Forever and the evangelical group joined forces on 200 East, picketing the east entrance to the square. At least 100 gay-rights supporters gathered around them, heckling and jeering in a series of heated and sometimes humorous exchanges. The two sides accused each other of hate and intolerance, alternating chants of "Shame on You!"

"Maybe they should take a minute and read the Bible and see it's not their place to judge," said Candace Finch, a 19-year-old lesbian from the Emery County town of Ferron.

Gay-rights supporter Brittany Putnam joined the anti-gay picket, singing the Beatles' "All You Need is Love." The the 22-year-old cook, better known as "Bubbles," mocked a young man carrying a sign reading, "Being here makes you intolerant hateful sore losers," with pelvic gyrations.

"You are persecuting people who voted against what you want!" shouted Abraham Rodrigues, Putnam's target.

But the exchanges never became physical, perhaps thanks to the presence of at least 40 police officers, some of whom were videotaping the protesters.

After the big gay-rights rally broke up, a group of marchers remained to confront America Forever activists as they hurled slogans and jeers from a sign-and-flag-festooned flatbed truck.

"Nature put in the sex drive to procreate the species. You're not being eco-friendly here," fumed Jonas Rodrigues, shouting to make his voice heard over the red boom box blaring music from his hand. A marcher stood by with a sign reading, "Brigham Young had 55 wives. Why can't my daughter have just one?" bmaffly@sltrib.com