For a cause that has been dealt a lot of setbacks, I’ll give local opponents of same-sex marriage this much — they’re fired up and optimistic that somehow, they’ll win in the end.

During a small but energetic rally in the shadow of the U.S. Capitol yesterday, the National Organization for Marriage brought its summer tour to a close by promising both that District residents would get to vote on same-sex marriage and that NOM would push for a Constitutional amendment defining marriage as being only between a man and a woman. A crowd of 150 enthusiastically cheered during speeches given by NOM Executive Director Brian Brown, Bishop Harry Jackson, Ward 5 ANC Commissioner Bob King, and former D.C. Delegate and civil rights hero Rev. Walter Fauntroy. A number of counter-protesters quietly held signs advocating for marriage equality; a loud group of 40 were shuffled off by U.S. Capitol police when they broke out a megaphone and tried to interrupt the rally. (There was a rally for marriage equality held at the same time at Freedom Plaza.)