One question divides same-sex marriage proponents: When?

LA Times: A measure to reinstate marriage rights for gays and lesbians on next year's ballot has stirred anxiety and doubts among some gay rights activists. The proposed measure, sponsored by a group called Love Honor Cherish, would overturn Proposition 8, last year's initiative that reinstated a ban on same-sex marriage. The group is mounting a volunteer signature-gathering effort using Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other social networking tools.

"We want our rights back," said John Henning, a lawyer who is executive director of the group. "This is not about farm price supports. This is about whether I can be married or not." Other gay rights supporters sympathize but worry that the group has neither the money nor the voters to win next year.

Jennifer C. Pizer, senior counsel with Lambda Legal, said Lambda would do everything it could to restore marriage rights for gays and lesbians. But she said a failed effort could further polarize voters and hurt and anger supporters of same-sex marriage. Lambda Legal and other long-established gay rights groups are aiming for the 2012 ballot instead. "We can predict with some reasonable confidence that we will be in position to win in 2012," Pizer said.

Five states permit same-sex marriage as a result of court rulings or legislative actions. No state has passed an initiative to extend marriage rights to gays and lesbians. Andy Pugno, a lawyer for the campaign that passed Proposition 8, said it was "virtually impossible" in California to qualify an initiative for the ballot through volunteer efforts alone.  "There is no evidence that Californians have changed their minds since voting on this last year," Pugno said.

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