“We committed if Tom made it through the surgery … we were going to actually have a ceremony,” Ward said.

Although their union wasn’t legal, the couple was among almost 120 people who rallied at the state Capitol on Tuesday evening in opposition to the California Supreme Court’s decision to uphold a statewide constitutional amendment passed in November 2008 that outlawed the state’s 18,000 same-sex marriages.

“We’re disappointed that the Supreme Court in California has not stood by its duty to protect the constitutional rights of its citizens,” rally co-organizer Robert Van Kirk said. “The state of Michigan must come together as a people to oppose this unconstitutional amendment.”

The crowd gathered around the Capitol steps, wielding picket signs, rainbow flags and tiny candles in paper cups, to hear speakers and representatives from the Lansing-based political organization Michigan Equality and the Triangle Foundation, which advocates civil rights movements, chief among them issues in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

The court’s ruling on Proposition 8 stipulates the 18,000 marriages performed prior to Proposition 8’s passing will not be invalidated, prompting civil rights groups to perceive the decision as both a win and a loss.

“The decision is good news and bad news, which is what many people expected,” said Julie Nemecek, co-director of Michigan Equality. “(Marriage equality) is an absolutely important social issue because it’s a fundamental civil right. To say that any group of people can’t have the rights afforded (to) other citizens because of their class is wrong.”

Louie Glinzak, chair of the MSU College Republicans, said Proposition 8 is both legitimate and lawful, and voters utilized the proper procedures to get such a measure passed.

“We think that the right thing was allowing people to vote on it, deciding based on majority opinion,” he said. “(The College Republicans) believe it’s a state’s rights issue. By trying to not let them choose … it’s disenfranchising the people and taking away their sovereignty.”

Justin Lippi, who co-organized the rally with Van Kirk, said the court’s decision affects people on both a physical and emotional level.

“It affects people on a very tangible, material level,” he said. “They can’t get marriage or receive the benefits of federally recognized marriage. I think it affects people very emotionally, too. It’s like saying you’re not as good as everyone else.”

Nemecek, who spoke at the rally, said it is important to show solidarity because of the message not only conveyed by words, but by the sight of community support as well.

“It reminds people that the state of marriage in Michigan is one that is very discriminatory,” she said.

“It’s a way of encouraging local and statewide activists to double their efforts to ensure the battle we’re waging in Michigan is going to be a win.”

Gay rights organizations in Michigan are working on other issues, such as laws pertaining to bullying, hate crimes and second-parent adoption, speakers said.

“We’ll be working on a lot of things leading up to 2012 in an effort to overturn Proposition 2,” said Nemecek, in reference to an amendment to the Michigan Constitution passed by voters in 2004, outlawing same-sex marriage and civil unions. “In the meantime, there are a lot of legislative initiatives being presented.”

Lippi said activists will be organizing events in the community to address the issues affecting the LGBT community, including a June 6 forum at Gone Wired Cafe, 2021 E. Michigan Ave., in Lansing.

“One week after that, we are going to have organization training so people can take the skills they learn, take them back to their own community and make changes on their own,” he said.