Advocates of gay marriage delivered a message to Rhode Island state lawmakers who blocked a same-sex marriage bill this year: We're putting a political bull's-eye on your back.

Hundreds of Rhode Islanders rallied at the Statehouse Tuesday in favor of gay marriage -- despite legislative leaders who say they'll consider a compromise measure to create civil unions instead. Those at the rally vowed political revenge on those lawmakers who opposed making Rhode Island the sixth state to recognize gay marriage.

"The 2012 election cycle starts now," Kate Brock, executive director of the group Ocean State Action, told a cheering crowd on the Statehouse steps. "We start recruiting candidates now. We start building our war chests now. Don't get mad. Get elected."

Meanwhile, House lawmakers introduced civil union legislation designed to give gay couples the same state rights afforded to married couples. Rep. Peter Petrarca, D-Lincoln, the bill's sponsor, said he supports gay marriage but that it has no chance of passing this year. He said the rights granted through civil unions are a better than none at all.