Small, plastic cups with tea light candles inside were lined on the asphalt, spelling out the name of California's first openly gay elected politician, Harvey Milk.

A small group gathered around, some holding candles of their own.

They had just watched the film about Milk's life, starring Sean Penn, at Camelot Theatres in Palm Springs. The plan was to have a rally and candlelight vigil Saturday to honor Milk and those affected by the passage of Proposition 8.

The vigil turned into more of an informal talk among newfound and old friends as the scheduled speakers did not appear.

“I think Harvey Milk had a good point,” said Yoka Brouwer, a native of Holland now living in Palm Springs. “There are still too many people in the closet.”

More people need to be open about their sexuality in the quest to educate those who are still bothered by a gay person's way of life, she said.

“We are very backwards in this country,” Randy Olsen of Los Angeles and Palm Springs said. “We think we are so evolved, yet we are so immature socially.”

Olsen, bundled in a peacoat, scarf and knit hat against the 50-degree chill, was recently in Dublin and discussed same-sex marriage with some locals.

“They couldn't believe we are talking about (not having same-sex marriage),” Olsen said, “especially in California.”

The sentiment was echoed by several who attended the vigil and were at the theaters in the late afternoon setting up.

Tracy Turner of Palm Springs handed out white ribbons tied in knots to symbolize that everyone should have the right to marry.

“I support getting rid of Prop. 8,” Isaiah Landers of Palm Springs said after pinning a white ribbon to his coat.

Elena Chvany of Palm Springs said she remembered living on the East Coast when she found out about Milk's assassination.

“It was a shocker,” she said, adding she looked forward to seeing the film.

Turner said he lived in San Francisco after Milk's assassination in 1978 and said the film, which he saw earlier in the week and again Saturday night, was nostalgic.

He said the film symbolizes the difference just one person can make.

“It's about everyone having access to what everyone is entitled to,” Turner said.

David Gallegos of Palm Springs also lived in San Francisco and worked with Mayor George Moscone when Milk was a member of the board of supervisors. He said the film was pretty accurate, except for how some of the timing of the events were portrayed. Penn, he added, was spot on.

“For me, the film is not so much about looking forward, as (about) bringing back memories,” he said.

The vigil and film viewing came just a day after California Attorney General Jerry Brown urged the state Supreme Court to void Proposition 8. Earlier, Brown had said he would defend the ballot measure against legal challenges.