Gary Bradley and his partner, Paul Perry, tied the knot just after midnight on Jan. 1, 2012, when the state’s civil unions law took effect.

The Waikiki couple hopes to be among the first to be married in November if the state Legislature approves same-sex marriage in a special session that opens today. As drafted, the bill would take effect Nov. 18.

Equality, Bradley believes, is likely coming one way or another. He is one of the plaintiffs in Jackson v. Abercrombie, the legal challenge to the state’s marriage law that is on hold at the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals pending the special session.

"It’s time. And this is the final step," said Bradley, who joined hundreds of gay rights advocates at the state Capitol on Sunday for the "Love Makes a Family" rally. "All we want is just equality, nothing more, nothing less."

At Iolani Palace, Mari Cardines and her husband, Allen Cardines Jr., who is pastor of Hope Chapel Nanakuli and Transformation Hawaii, were among hundreds who attended a worship service to mark the end of a 21-day "fast for (religious) freedom" before the special session.

Cardines said she and others who want to preserve traditional marriage want everyone to be loved and to be happy in their relationships. She worries about the potential effects of marriage equality, especially how children might be taught about the subject in schools.

"I understand that couples want to be happy and they want to be married, but I’m personally thinking about the future generations," she said.

The rally and worship service were preludes to activism planned for today at the state Capitol. Hundreds of gay rights advocates are staging a "lobby day" this morning. Thousands of opponents of gay marriage are expected for an afternoon demonstration.

At the "Love Makes a Family" event, several speakers put same-sex marriage in the same historical context as interracial marriage and equal rights for women and racial minorities.

State Rep. Chris Lee (D, Kailua-Lanikai-Waimanalo) said Hawaii is close to taking a huge step forward in ending a history of discrimination against gay couples.

"Even though history is on our side, even though the Supreme Court has ruled, even though the Constitution is clear, despite the fact that this will be a big step for our economy and our small businesses, despite the fact that there’s a majority — a growing majority — of support in the general public, despite all this, there’s still questions being asked," he said.

"And that means it’s up to us to step forward and reach out and have that discussion with those who still raise these questions."

At the worship service, speakers described the gay marriage bill as a threat to religious liberty.

Colette Machado, chairwoman of the state Office of Hawaiian Affairs, invoked the 1839 Hawaiian Bill of Rights under King Kamehameha III. The declaration stated that God had bestowed rights on all men and had established government.

She also cited the 1840 Hawaiian Constitution that describes a covenant with God and decreed that no law should be at variance with the word of the Lord.

"This is what we’re doing today," Machado told the faithful. "We’re declaring. We’re coming out to claim that these lands — this Hawaii nei, our beloved homeland — we’re claiming it for God and his son Jesus."

Rain poured down as Machado spoke and she was interrupted by a clap of thunder, which she and others cheered as a sign from God.

The sun did break through again, though, as people held hands and formed a larger prayer circle on the palace grounds.

Ellie Kapihe, pastor of Windward Missionary Church asked the faithful to release any anger or bitterness they might feel toward Gov. Neil Abercrombie, state Sen. Clayton Hee (D, Heeia-Laie-Waialua) and other supporters of same-sex marriage and instead bless them. He asked the faithful to be the Ekklesia — or gathering of Christians — as the debate unfolds this week at the Legislature.