Big picture: 'God hates signs' - gay rights protesters' placards

If you're both – witness Mr 'Would-you-rather-I-marry-your-daughter?' – then you've basically struck gold. But if all else fails, being a bit silly works: 'Gay is the new black' doesn't go for the jugular, but it will make you smile Photograph: happyplace.com

The best are those signs that hijack anti-gay rights protesters’ own demonstrations. The most effective way to belittle a stoney-faced extremist holding a sign saying, 'God Hates Fags' is to stand next to him with a large grin and T-shirts reading: 'He's gay' Photograph: happyplace.com

Disregard aesthetics – it shows integrity: a cardboard box and a spray-can gets your message across perfectly well Photograph: Charles Meacham

They are a sin, aren't they? But particularly when coupled with that placard Photograph: happyplace.com

The campaign against California’s Proposition 8, in particular, brought out an army of protesters brandishing witty, devastating and downright hilarious placards Photograph: happyplace.com

Many slogans highlight the absurdity of anti-gay marriage arguments. This one says it all Photograph: happyplace.com

Liza Minelli, who married at least one man who later came out as gay, is often name-checked. Dogs make good props Photograph: happyplace.com

Pro-gay marriage protests is just one sub-genre of placard to be found online – visit about.com’s political humour section, or happyplace.com for more. But the gay rights movement seems to have cornered the market in wit and flair. My favourite: the sublime 'Attention heterosexuals: we want to be miserable too'. Who can’t relate to that? Photograph: happyplace.com