President Bush backed a constitutional amendment yesterday to ban gay marriages, creating political commotion in the State College area.

Some residents support his ideas while others support equality for the gay and lesbian community.

Larry Frankel, director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania, said he is opposed to amending the Constitution.

"To deny marriage rights to same-sex couples is wrong and reminds me of the discrimination that was around when the Constitution was written," Frankel said. "And since then, there hasn't been an amendment to discriminate. This will be the first one since then."

Frankel added that amending the Constitution based on moral beliefs has been done in the past, but has failed.

"The one time the Constitution was amended reflecting someone's moral beliefs was the prohibition, and that was appealed shortly after because it failed," he said.

William Roberts, campus minister for the Christian Student Fellowship, said he backs Bush's proposed amendment.

"It's unfortunate that we have to define what marriage is, but if you look to the Old Testament, [same-sex relations] are condemned, because it's not what God had designed," Roberts said. "So, I agree with Bush."

While more than a few students refused to comment on Bush's statements, one student did express anger and frustration with Bush's newest legislative endeavor.

Gabrielle Salas (freshman-business) said she is against the banning of same-sex marriages because it is a step back in American liberties.

"By doing this, the president is excluding [gays and lesbians] from equal rights that all other citizens have," Salas said.

She also said this tactic is a political ploy by the president to try and get re-elected.

"This is [Bush's] last chance to gain support and those against gay marriages are probably in the majority, so he'll get their support," Salas added.

Michael Cole, spokesman for the Human Rights Campaign in Washington, D.C., said Bush's backing of this proposed amendment is a public endorsement of discrimination.

"It's discriminatory and a cheap political ploy on the backs of gay and lesbian families," Cole said.

He also added that Bush's outcry for banning same-sex marriages comes just in time for a discriminatory re-election campaign.

"He's done this at a time of re-election. But hopefully people will see it's bad politics and just unfair," Cole said. "This is a step back, because our Constitution had been amending to extend the rights of people. If the president wants to use the Constitution to discriminate, it's just shameful."

Bush said this political move was necessary in order to stop judges from changing the definition of the "most enduring human institution."

Bush said he is urging Congress to approve such an amendment because "a few judges and local authorities are presuming to change the most fundamental institution of civilization ... their action has created confusion on an issue that requires clarity."

Josh Hoover, president of the Alliance Christian Fellowship, said although he has not followed Bush's recent endeavors that closely, he does support his actions.

"In my opinion, I do believe that same-sex marriages are wrong," Hoover said. "The Bible clearly states that a man and a man and a woman and a woman are not allowed to have sexual relations."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.