PROVIDENCE, RI -- The next shot has been fired in the war over the same-sex marriage proposal headed for a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Thursday night.

First came a radio ad sponsored by the Rhode Island affiliate of a group - the national Organization for Marriage - that takes credit for helping to defeat a proposed same-sex ballot initiative in California.

Their message: show up for the hearing, barrage legislators with e-mails opposing the proposal introduced by Sen. Rhoda Perry, D-Providence, and "pray for the defeat of the same-sex marriage bill and passage of the bill preserving marriage, pray for God to move the hearts of the members of the committee, pray for God to protect our State, pray for the sanctity of marriage, and pray for Christians to become united around this cause.''

In response, a group called Marriage Equality Rhode Island began airing a response ad today that rejects civil unions and some of the other alternatives floated by some key lawmakers - including Senate president M. Teresa Paiva Weed - as unacceptable, even as the drive for full marriage rights here enters its 13th year.

With a school bell ringing the start of class, a "teacher'' says: "Hello boys and girls....Today we are discussing the lack of civil rights for gay and lesbian citizens of Rhode Island whose stable, loving families have never had the three R's - respect recognition and rights. Civil unions do not provide equal protection under the law....History tells us separate but equal is never equal...Clearly some elected officials have not paid attention in class or done their homework.... Call them. Tell them you support equal marriage rights for all.''

As of last night, a weekend donation drive had netted $2,700 for the radio campaign, according to spokeswoman Susan MacNeil. Out of those donations, she said, $2,430 has been spent so far to run ads today through Thursday.

"As additional funds mount, we will continue to purchase air time and, if dollars permit, cable TV advertising. We're also approaching national partners to seek substantial funding for an ongoing media campaign we are calling "The Three R's - Respect, Recognition and Rights'' - which will be the framework for our media and educational initiatives.''

MacNeil said her group worked on Monday with state Rep. Deborah Ruggiero in her capacity as director of community development at the company that owns WPRO, and "she went out of her way to get us in this afternoon to record the ad and schedule air time. We wrote the ad this morning and I recorded it at 2:30 p.m.''

Ruggiero today said she was happy to help "so the other side could be heard on this issue because it's important for all voices to be heard.'' A freshman legislator, the Jamestown Democrat said: "I certainly support the issue...It's a civil right and there is not enough love in the world.''

The ad can also be heard on the MarriageEqualityRI.org blog.