GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Faith In America, a gay-rights group out of Raleigh, N.C., used candles and a message of acceptance to rally support for gay rights in the upstate on Monday night.

The effort called “Seven Straight Nights for Equal Rights” gained support after Sean Kennedy, a gay man, was killed outside a Greenville nightclub in May.

“We stand here to say, ‘We stand with you,’” said Jimmy Creech from Faith In America. “We want you to be secure and respected.”

Kennedy’s mother, Elke Kennedy, attended the event at Piazza Bergamo.

“Almost five months ago we were here for a candlelight vigil for my son,” said Elke Kennedy. “Then I was here to mourn him. Today I’m here to celebrate his life and his fight for equal rights.”

Candles were placed throughout the plaza. The group said each of the 1,138 candles represents an amendment, law or ordinance that denies equal rights to people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.

While most of the people at the rally were there to support gay rights, there was a second group nearby who protested the same idea.

Members of the Zachary Baptist Church gathered near the rally to make their voices heard.

“I’m telling you what God says, that sodomites are not going to the kingdom of God,” one of the protestors shouted.

Other clergy members who attended the rally voiced their concerns.

“This is a demonstration of hate in the disguise of religion,” said Creech, who was once a minister. “It makes me sad.”