Seven people have been arrested in Los Angeles as police intervened to control protesters angered by losing a vote on the definition of marriage.
About one thousand protesters had gathered outside a Mormon temple in the city in the second day of fierce protests in California.
As part of the US general election, residents in California voted in favour of a marriage protection amendment to the state constitution.
The amendment means only marriage between a man and a woman is valid and recognised in California.
Four protesters were taken into custody at the intersection of Hollywood and Highland when they tried to cross a line of officers.
Two more protesters were arrested in West Hollywood for disturbing the peace.
Television cameras showed one protester jumping on top of a police car at the intersection of Hollywood and Highland. He was quickly wrestled to the ground by police and handcuffed.
The rally broke into several separate groups as midnight approached hours after the marching began. Protesters disturbed traffic on Santa Monica and San Vicente Boulevards in West Hollywood.
LAPD Officer Jason Lee said the majority of marchers were mostly peaceful in the demonstration.
The Christian Institute’s Simon Calvert commented: “Most protesters were clearly behaving themselves and exercising their right to free speech, but the number of arrests show how militant some homosexual activists can be.
“Imagine if the vote had gone the other way and one thousand Christians protested outside a gay community centre – seven of them arrested. Imagine the headlines from the liberal media.
“I’m reminded of last year’s comments from Ben Summerskill, head of Stonewall, when Christians held a peaceful demonstration outside Parliament against the Sexual Orientation Regulations.
“He said he was shocked that the London police even allowed it and expressed concern at what he dubbed the protesters’ ‘hate-filled faces’. I saw that protest. I didn’t see any hate, only ordinary Christians singing hymns and praying. Compare that to what happened in LA.”