(San Francisco, California) As word of Tuesday’s California Supreme Court ruling on Proposition 8 spread to the crowd outside a thunderous moan went up.

Hundreds of people on both sides of the gay marriage issue were gathered outside the court as the justices released their ruling upholding Prop 8, but allowing those gay marriages before the November election to remain valid.

“We All Deserve The Freedom To Marry,” read placards carried by many in the crowd.  Opponents of marriage equality also carried signs.  One man held a sign reading “Gay = Pervert.”

Speaking from her ailing mother’s bedside, Karen Strauss, lead petitioner in the case against Prop 8, said, “My heart, already on the verge of breaking, has just been dealt an irreparable blow. I was so hoping the court would find its way to a decision that continues, rather than repeals, our equality under the law and that would allow our family to celebrate the love Ruth and I have shared for nearly 18 years.”

“My mother’s poor health — a major impediment to Ruth’s and my wedding plans last year — has taken the turn our family has been dreading; she is now under hospice care. The opportunity for her to witness my marriage has gone forever,” said Strauss.

“Today, the California Supreme Court diminished its legacy as a champion of equality,” said Kate Kendell,  Executive Director National Center for Lesbian Rights in a statement.

NCLR was one of the organizations arguing before the court for the overturn of the ban.

“By upholding Prop 8, an initiative that stripped the right to marry from same-sex couples in California, the Court’s decision has undermined the central principle that all people are entitled to equal rights and has jeopardized every minority group in California. No minority group should have to defend its right to equality at the ballot, and the Court should not have permitted such a travesty of justice to stand,” Kendell said.

The Washington DC-based Human Rights Campaign vowed the fight is not over.

“Today’s ruling is a huge blow to Americans everywhere who care about equality.  The court has allowed a bare majority of voters to write same-sex couples out of basic constitutional protections,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese.  “This ruling is painful, but it represents a temporary setback.  There will be a groundswell to restore marriage equality in our nation’s largest state, and HRC will not give up until marriage equality is restored in California.”

“While we are relieved that the 18,000 couples who married before the Prop 8 vote will still have valid marriages, it does not in any way remove the sting of this ruling,” added Solmonese.

Equality California, the state’s largest LGBT rights group already has begun work to win marriage back at the ballot box.

“We do not underestimate the challenge of implementing a strong ballot campaign.  Introducing ballot language is simple; winning an affirmative referendum on the freedom to marry will be difficult and expensive. But we have confidence that we can and will prevail,” said Marc Solomon, EQCA’s Marriage Director.

The California Secretary of State has given the group Yes on Equality until Aug. 17 to collect the nearly 700,000 signatures needed to qualify its initiative for the 2010 ballot. It would ask voters to repeal Prop 8. The other, by two college students, would strike the word “marriage” from all state laws.

Police throughout California were on alert as gay activists planned rallies for Tuesday night in dozens of cities.

Demonstrations also are planned in a number of other cities across the country, including New York City.

Protestors will march from Sheridan Square to Union Square for a rally in support of same-sex marriage.

The New York State Assembly has passed marriage equality legislation supported by the governor.  The bill has stalled in the Senate.

“I believe that New York is getting ready to join its neighbors here in the Northeast. We are on the verge of passing legislation that would finally give same-sex couples in New York the 1,324 rights and protections that come with a state marriage license,” said Alan Van Capelle, executive director of Empire State Pride Agenda, in a statement:

” Our State Assembly and our governor have already made it clear that no family in New York should be denied the vital legal security of a civil marriage license — and that L.G.B.T. New Yorkers should never be treated like second-class citizens.”

“Let’s stand with our neighbors and be proud. I believe senators from both sides of the aisle want to do this so history can say they did the right thing at the right moment. Let’s get this done now,” Can Capelle added.

The groups behind Prop 8 are planning their own demonstrations – in celebration of the ruling – and are vowing to fight any attempt to overturn it.

“People of faith have stood strong in this battle for marriage, and we intend to stand together moving forward, regardless of the threats that may come our way,” said Jim Franklin, pastor of Cornerstone Church in Fresno, and the chair of the ProtectMarriage the group behind Prop 8.  “Opponents of traditional marriage have been exposed for their intolerance of a person’s rights of conscience and religious expression. We are devoted to informing and educating Californians on marriage’s ultimate value to a society, for the benefit of children and the next generation.”

Churches that supported Prop 8 are planning celebrations on Sunday, May 31.