Poll finds support waning for California gay marriage ban

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A constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriage in California has lost support during the past two months and now trails by a 17-point margin.Just 38 percent of likely voters back Proposition 8, while 55 percent say they will vote against the Nov. 4 ballot measure, according to a new Field Poll. In July, the measure trailed by nine points.Since then, the heading on the ballot summary -- which began with the words "Limit on Marriage" on petitions to gather signatures for the measure -- has been changed on voter pamphlets to read "Eliminates right of same-sex couples to marry."Attorney General Jerry Brown decided to change the wording after the state Supreme Court in May overturned a ban on gay marriages in California.In the new poll, half the respondents were read the original summary and the other half the amended version to test voter reaction.The level of support did not waver. In each case, only 38 percent of likely voters said they intended to vote for the measure.The new version elicited slightly greater opposition, three more percentage points. Field Poll Director Mark DiCamillo said these were "people who were unaware of the initiative" and the amended version "pulled them more to the 'No' side."Why? "Voters generally support individual rights, so eliminating a right has a more negative connotation than 'limit on marriage,'" DiCamillo said.Preferences on Proposition 8 are divided sharply by party -- with Republicans for it and Democrats against it -- and by other factors, including religion and geography.Harla Hanford of Redding, Calif., a Republican and an evangelical Christian who took part in the poll, supports overturning the state Supreme Court's rejection of the ban on same-sex marriages."I believe gay marriage or homosexuality is wrong (because) it undermines the family," the 72-year-old retiree said.Another poll respondent and retiree, Barbara Hill of Citrus Heights, describes herself as a former evangelical Christian whose views on homosexuality have changed. Hill, 67, opposes Proposition 8."I have gay and lesbian friends who are overjoyed to have civil unions," said Hill, a Democrat. "Two people making a commitment for the rest of their lives is a good thing."While a majority of Protestants back Proposition 8, larger majorities of Catholics, those affiliated with other religions and those with no preference intend to vote "No," according to the poll.Voters in coastal counties polled more strongly in opposition than inland voters.And voters who have completed post-graduate work polled more than 3-to-1 against the initiative, while voters with less education oppose it more narrowly.(E-mail Aurelio Rojas at arojas(at)sacbee.com)(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)