DURING past elections, Republican legislators in several states drafted constitutional amendments banning gay marriage - knowing that this emotion-charged issue would mobilize throngs of white evangelical voters, who tend to support GOP candidates. It was a clever ploy: using prejudice against gays to reap Republican votes.

Now a variation of the pattern seems to be repeating in California. The state Supreme Court ruled that homosexuals have a right to marry. "Religious right" conservatives erupted in protest. Petitions from fundamentalist churches forced the state to put the issue on the Nov. 4 ballot, when political races will be decided.

We can't guess how this stormy struggle will turn out. A San Diego Union-Tribune columnist wrote:

"For most Americans younger than 30, same-sex marriage is a nonissue. A new Field Poll found that 51 percent of California's registered voters favor allowing same-sex couples to marry while 42 percent are opposed. But among voters 18 to 29, an overwhelming 68 percent approve, while just 25 percent are opposed. The concept is still unpopular with voters 65 or older - 55 percent against, with 36 percent in favor."

Oldsters usually vote, and youngsters usually don't, which could bode ill for gay matrimony in California. But the battle is politically confusing. Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger opposes the proposed ban. Republican presidential nominee-to-be John McCain previously opposed amending the U.S. Constitution to halt same-sex weddings, but now he says he's "glad" that Californians will go to the polls, "rather than having that decision made by judicial fiat."

We support America's growing tolerance, and think that "straights" shouldn't try to tell gays how they must live. It's a shame that this hot-button topic has been thrust among all the political issues to be decided in the general election.

Now a variation of the pattern seems to be repeating in California. The state Supreme Court ruled that homosexuals have a right to marry. "Religious right" conservatives erupted in protest. Petitions from fundamentalist churches forced the state to put the issue on the Nov. 4 ballot, when political races will be decided.

We can't guess how this stormy struggle will turn out. A San Diego Union-Tribune columnist wrote:

"For most Americans younger than 30, same-sex marriage is a nonissue. A new Field Poll found that 51 percent of California's registered voters favor allowing same-sex couples to marry while 42 percent are opposed. But among voters 18 to 29, an overwhelming 68 percent approve, while just 25 percent are opposed. The concept is still unpopular with voters 65 or older - 55 percent against, with 36 percent in favor."

Oldsters usually vote, and youngsters usually don't, which could bode ill for gay matrimony in California. But the battle is politically confusing. Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger opposes the proposed ban. Republican presidential nominee-to-be John McCain previously opposed amending the U.S. Constitution to halt same-sex weddings, but now he says he's "glad" that Californians will go to the polls, "rather than having that decision made by judicial fiat."

We support America's growing tolerance, and think that "straights" shouldn't try to tell gays how they must live. It's a shame that this hot-button topic has been thrust among all the political issues to be decided in the general election.