Lauren Preuninger was more than a little upset after hearing President George W. Bush say on Feb. 24 that he would support a Constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.

"Basically, I was so mad that I couldn't even talk," Preuninger (freshman-psychology) said.

Fueled by her anger, Preuninger, who is a Pennsylvania resident, embarked on a mission to talk to as many of her peers as possible about the gay-marriage debate. She spoke to other students in classes and online using chat programs.

"I realized that there were a lot of people around who didn't even know how they felt about it," she said. "I think a lot of people kind of looked at it as, 'It doesn't really affect me, so I don't care.'"

Preuninger's stance on the gay rights issue was solidified after writing a research paper on homosexuality in other cultures, and she is not alone in her decision to support the right for lesbian and gay couples to marry. Recent polls have shown the younger generation is more supportive of gay marriage than older generations.

According to a poll conducted for the National Annenberg Election Survey at the University of Pennsylvania and released last month, just over half of the nation's 18- to 29-year-old population is opposed to a law in their states that would allow same-sex marriages.

That is in comparison to 81 percent of the 65 and older population also in opposition. The group interviewed 1,943 for the poll.

"I think that the college generation is more supportive of gay marriage than other age demographics," College Republicans chair Richard Pastena said.

People in the younger age demographic are more accepting of differences, such as homosexuality, because they have grown up exposed to them, College Democrats President Jessica Hopkins said.

"[Older people are] more anxious about it, and they're more wary, and they don't understand it," Hopkins said.

The gay marriage debate is an important issue for young people and should affect their vote in November's presidential election, Allies President Sara Ryan said. "This is the major civil rights issue of the time right now, and it's absolutely necessary that college students take part in this," Ryan said.

Bush's Constitutional amendment proposal is in response to the inconsistencies from state to state regarding gay marriage, and it would prevent courts from setting precedents, said state Sen. Jake Corman, R-Bellefonte.

However, half of Pennsylvania voters would prefer that gay marriage laws pass through the state Legislature rather than the U.S. Congress, according to a poll released last week.

But Corman said he understands why voters would prefer to leave the decision to the states.

"In a perfect world, I would much rather keep it at a state level, let the states decide," Corman said.

That poll, conducted by the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, also found that 63 percent of Pennsylvania voters would not support a law allowing gay couples to marry.

The institute surveyed 1,022 registered Pennsylvania voters by telephone between March 9 and 15.

"I would guess that [the poll] probably is fairly accurate. I have no reason to doubt it. I think [Pennsylvania's] a relatively conservative state," said Bob Shepherd, Centre County Democrats chair.

Although the Centre County Democrats have never discussed gay marriage, Shepherd said he believes a ban on gay marriage would violate the separation of church and state.

"We live in a society where you're supposed to be who you are without being criticized for being different," Preuninger said.

Allies will hold a meeting for discussion about gay marriage at 8:30 in 18 Henderson Monday, Ryan said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.