The National Organization for Marriage, the group that spearheaded the opposition to California’s Proposition 8 in 2008, will stop in Atlanta on Aug. 7 to hold a protest at the state capitol as part of a national bus tour.

The protest will take place from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Several Atlanta organizations, including the Queer Justice League of Atlanta, MEGA Family Project and Georgia Equality, denounced the planned visit today in a press release.

“I want them to look me in the eye and explain why I cannot marry my partner of almost 17 years,” Queer Justice League spokesperson Rick Westbrook said in the press release. “I grow weary of being a second class citizen.”

Local activist Jeff Schade added, “We invite the Atlanta community to join us in speaking out against the National Organization for Marriage and their misguided views on ‘marriage’ and ‘family.’”

There will be a counter-protest / pro-marriage rally held at 12:30 p.m. on the day of NOM’s visit to Atlanta with the theme “Love + Commitment = Marriage.” Organizers will announce a location of the counter-protest in the next several days, according to the press release.

Georgia has a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. There is currently no same-sex marriage legislation working through the Georgia Assembly.

To read the full press release, please click here.

Top photo: The National Organization for Marriage 'A Gathering Storm' ad, which played in California to highlight opposition to Proposition 8 (via YouTube)