Members of conservative groups on campus came together last night to discuss gay marriage, with panelists voicing a wide range of views.

The debate was sponsored by the Penn State College Republicans in response to the national controversy surrounding marriage laws.

College Republicans President Rich Pastena began the debate by telling the crowd of about 40 that even though all six panelists were conservatives, they all had many differences in opinions.

"Those who think all Republicans approve it or all Republicans are against, you are in for a surprise," he said.

Each side of the debate consisted of two students and one member of the State College community.

Jason Waeltz, Young Americans for Freedom (YAF) member; Charles Gable, Penn State graduate; and College Republicans member Brian Battaglia all argued in support of gay marriages during the debate. The opposing side was argued by Mike Shotto, YAF member; Eric Tober, State College Evangelical Free Church senior pastor; and Pete Roy, vice president for YAF.

Members from both sides were given five minutes to express their viewpoints on gay marriage.

Battaglia spoke first and said the U.S. government has traditionally defined marriage as a union between a man and woman, but needs to redefine what a marriage is.

"We need to change with the times and society; we need to change and not be stubborn," he said.

Roy said people pushing for gay marriages are not seeking to enhance a relationship, but want society to condone their actions.

"They are asking for a legal endorsement," he said.

"People should not be forced to be involved with something they think is immoral."

Roy said this is merely an issue of government contracts and licensing.

Gable said it was not all about contracts but more about individual liberties.

"It is an attempt to write discrimination into our Constitution," he said.

Gable said he did not think the United States was ready for the institution of gay marriage.

"America is not at the point where it can handle gay marriage, but this is a compromise," he said.

Tober said he was in the debate representing "his savior Jesus Christ." He read some scripture from the Bible to express his viewpoints.

He read 19 Matthew to the crowd, and he said what God has brought together, the government should not separate.

Countering Tober's religious argument, Battaglia said America cannot function through the Bible.

In a question-and-answer session that was moderated by College Republicans Vice President Andy Banducci, many aspects of the debate were discussed.

The two sides heavily debated the effects of gay marriages on children in those settings.

Battaglia said some studies have showed that gays and lesbians can actually raise children better than heterosexuals.

"What is important is that you have two caring parents," he said. "To say a child needs a masculine or feminine role in their life is ridiculous."

Roy countered Battaglia's argument and said that any time a child is missing one parent, it is bad.

"Part of the reason why marriages work is the complementary relationship between a man and a woman. To intentionally place a child in a situation with two people of the same sex is pushing it," he said.

Some students said they did not know what to expect from the debate.

B. Barry (junior-English) said the debate was very beneficial. He said he had no idea what he was going to hear.

"I was shocked to see that the members in these groups had different views," he said. "I would not have been surprised if this went into a childish argument, but it stayed very intellectual."