MADISON, Wis. -- Opponents of the marriage amendment described why the believe it would be bad for Wisconsin at a lunchtime rally on Thursday.

Voters will get to weigh in on the hotly contested statewide referendum at the ballot box in November.

The rally was organized by members of the city's Equal Opportunity Commission. They believe that it would hurt civil rights in Madison it could threaten things like domestic partner benefits.

"(There are) huge negative ramifications for equal rights protections ... as well as ... as you heard, domestic violence protections ... all sorts of things. It's hateful, it's wrong and it must be stopped," said Bert Zipperer, a marriage amendment opponent.

But amendment supporters disagree, saying that a yes vote would prevent a court from deciding who can and can't marry.

"I think it's a huge smoke screen because what the amendment is about is keeping marriage between one man and one woman and letting the people of Wisconsin decide what marriage is going to be here," said Judith Brant, an amendment supporter.

Members of the EOC are urging people to vote against the marriage amendment on their own time. Thursday's event was not part of city work, WISC-TV reported.